Last summer I took the SAT for the first time. Weeks prior I took mock exams and reviewed math and reading concepts. Walking into the exam I felt moderately confident that I was going to reach my goal score. While taking the exam it felt like time was quickly slipping away no matter how quickly I tried to complete the exam, which induced so much anxiety. I began to lose momentum and confidence. This feeling was foreign to me since I would consider myself a good test taker because of my experiences with AP exams, but this was a different ballpark. I left the testing center knowing I didn’t reach my goal score.
Upon reflection I realized the SAT is different from other exams since it requires you to not see the questions simply at face value. This exam requires you to connect ideas and use concepts that may have not been frequently used while in school. Knowing this I took the exam again. Achieving a better score than last time was a major accomplishment, but I gave up on reaching my goal score.
Colleges tend to use the SAT as a leveled playing field, but this does not display one’s potential when applying to school. A major factor in doing well on the exam is preparation. Access to different forms of test prep creates a large gap in opportunity to understand your mistakes and increase your score. There are people who are able to afford private tutors or may have test prep at their schools. In contrast, other individuals have to rely on their library to provide them with workbooks and or internet connection to take online practice tests. The SAT cannot measure how well someone is at test taking and time management when there are drastic differences in what individuals can access to properly prepare.
While talking to people about college during junior and senior year of high school, I have realized a trend of intelligent well-rounded individuals knowing that they wouldn’t be able to get into their dream schools simply because of their test score. A single test score cannot depict someone’s determination to learn and ambition throughout their educational career. During college individuals change and grow not only as people, but as students. A person is now given a different goal to achieve so they may spend more time trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible. The SAT will never be able to measure someone’s potential because in life we face defining experiences that impact our goals and path for the future. This one exam should not have the weight of heavily affecting someone’s future.