6 answers
Christian
Student
Wheeling
2
Questions
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Why does standardize testing make a difference in college admission?
A person may have there reason on why they didn't perform well but it cannot fully determine a student eligibility for success.
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6 answers
Cameron Vorhies
Business Development Representative
4
Answers
Santa Monica, California
Updated
Cameron ’s Answer
Don't let your test score define your academic value! I loved school but felt stressed during tests, so I understand how tough they can be. Remember, your score is just a number and doesn't show how smart, hardworking, or motivated you really are.
Abhishek Singhal
12
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Abhishek’s Answer
High schools vary a lot in their courses and grading, so colleges can't easily compare students' educational strengths. The SAT or ACT is just one of many things colleges look at when deciding who to admit. They also consider school grades, teacher recommendations, extracurricular activities, and community involvement.
Narmada Narayanan
IT
3
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Chicago, Illinois
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Narmada’s Answer
Standardized tests are helpful for admissions, but they're not everything. They are important for comparing and predicting, but colleges also consider your overall achievements and experiences to see your true potential.
Kathryn Allen
Accounting/Audit
5
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Lynn, Massachusetts
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Kathryn’s Answer
I think standardized testing is overweighted in college admissions. I understand why schools use it, because it can measure some things like discipline and how well a student prepares under pressure. But I do not think it should be the main factor, because it does not fully capture a student’s ability to succeed.
In my own experience, I was always a better student in class than I was on tests because I worked hard and put effort into my schoolwork, even though I struggled with testing anxiety. I was admitted to college during a COVID year when test scores were not required, so I did not submit mine. Honestly, I sometimes think I may have been admitted to better schools if I had submitted my average scores, but I still believe standardized tests are just one piece of the puzzle. If a student has strong grades, good experience, and a solid work ethic, admissions should be able to see that they may simply not be a great test taker and that's okay!
The main thing is that effort should count. If you studied really hard that should still be celebrated! Recognize that your still is better than it would've been if you hadn't put the effort in. Standardized tests can offer one data point, but they do not define a student’s potential or future success.
In my own experience, I was always a better student in class than I was on tests because I worked hard and put effort into my schoolwork, even though I struggled with testing anxiety. I was admitted to college during a COVID year when test scores were not required, so I did not submit mine. Honestly, I sometimes think I may have been admitted to better schools if I had submitted my average scores, but I still believe standardized tests are just one piece of the puzzle. If a student has strong grades, good experience, and a solid work ethic, admissions should be able to see that they may simply not be a great test taker and that's okay!
The main thing is that effort should count. If you studied really hard that should still be celebrated! Recognize that your still is better than it would've been if you hadn't put the effort in. Standardized tests can offer one data point, but they do not define a student’s potential or future success.
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach, Mentor
1221
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Christian,
Standardized tests are one piece of the puzzle in college admission, definitely not the only one. Most colleges do some kind of holistic review of your application materials including SAT/ACT scores, GPA, letters of recommendation, essays, experience, extracurriculars, interviews etc.
Of course, standardized tests don't give the whole picture (that's why they are not the only thing considered), but they are numbers that can be compared easily. They are one of the few quantifiable metrics and therefore "objective". They are also easily verifiable unlike many of the letters of recommendation or extracurricular activities that students report.
If you have valid reasons why your tests scores are much lower than you would have expected given your general talents and accomplishments, your essays are one place to talk about them. Your letter writers, e.g. your school counselor, can also comment on your scores and emphasize your qualities outside of test scores, which gives it more credibility,
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Standardized tests are one piece of the puzzle in college admission, definitely not the only one. Most colleges do some kind of holistic review of your application materials including SAT/ACT scores, GPA, letters of recommendation, essays, experience, extracurriculars, interviews etc.
Of course, standardized tests don't give the whole picture (that's why they are not the only thing considered), but they are numbers that can be compared easily. They are one of the few quantifiable metrics and therefore "objective". They are also easily verifiable unlike many of the letters of recommendation or extracurricular activities that students report.
If you have valid reasons why your tests scores are much lower than you would have expected given your general talents and accomplishments, your essays are one place to talk about them. Your letter writers, e.g. your school counselor, can also comment on your scores and emphasize your qualities outside of test scores, which gives it more credibility,
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Flower xu
41
Answers
Updated
Flower’s Answer
You’re right—standardized tests can’t fully define a student’s potential or future success. They often reflect performance at a specific time, when people are still growing and not yet fully mature.
However, they still play a role as a basic, common benchmark. Since students come from very different schools and backgrounds, standardized tests give colleges one shared way to compare academic readiness. It’s not a perfect system, but it helps create some level of fairness.
Also, if someone is truly strong academically, it usually shows up in multiple ways—including tests. So in that sense, standardized exams are just one form of validation, not the final judgment.
In the end, they matter—but they’re only one piece of a much bigger picture.
However, they still play a role as a basic, common benchmark. Since students come from very different schools and backgrounds, standardized tests give colleges one shared way to compare academic readiness. It’s not a perfect system, but it helps create some level of fairness.
Also, if someone is truly strong academically, it usually shows up in multiple ways—including tests. So in that sense, standardized exams are just one form of validation, not the final judgment.
In the end, they matter—but they’re only one piece of a much bigger picture.