Standardized Testing
Nearly every high school student, whether it be their junior or senior year, will take either the SAT or ACT. These tests are required for almost any college admission and once taken can increase a student's odds for scholarship, placement, etc. based on that student's score. These tests are a national standard from which colleges can evaluate a student's academic aptitude regardless of their background or financial situation. However, though standardized testing sounds simple and unbiased, recent research and critics beg to differ. These critics believe that some students can be put at a disadvantage based on available opportunities and language skills. I agree with these critics. I believe colleges in the United States should not base a student's acceptance, scholarship, or placement on standardized testing. These tests are an unfair, inaccurate, and outdated means of testing a student's knowledge, worth, or ability. Because every high school is different there is a great inconsistency between each one's grading systems. Also, every teacher has different teaching abilities and expectations of their students. These issues make it difficult for an admission officer to fairly decipher which students belong at their particular co
Even though the SAT and the ACT have been in usage for over forty years, arguments over their effectiveness and fairness have risen, especially in the last decade. These standardized tests are an unfair measurement of a student's capabilities and an extreme amount of importance is placed in them. The overemphasis on these tests has distorted admissions around the country from what really matters about a student. Each college should take a more thorough look into each one of its applicants to see what they have accomplished and to see what they are capable of. High school grades are a great indicator of a student's accomplishments. Even if a student's high school grades are not particularly good grades, one can tell if that student is a hard worker from the progression of those grades. One can also examine a student's curriculum for signs of progress. Also, recent studies have proven that standardized testing is culturally biased and is discriminatory towards disadvantaged students and women. For example, test takers from non-Asian minority groups have been noted to score significantly lower on standardized tests than their white peers. Also, students from more prominent and better educated family backgrounds tend to score higher on these tests. Schools and districts that are better funded also tend to have higher scores due to the fact that they can afford to purchase more test-prep materials. In the quest for higher scores, schools have begun to eliminate certain classes in the arts and electives. SAT's are also flawed in the kind of knowledge they examine. Many students now take preparatory classes for the SAT's to increase their score. So any knowledge tested on these examinations is not really genuine knowledge, but information
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1176
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)
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