By Mehak Garg
COVID-19 has made it extremely difficult for students to take standardized tests like the SAT and ACT, especially in more affected areas such as California and New York. The difficulty in finding test centers has resulted in numerous colleges implementing test-optional (not making standardized testing required on applications) policies including private schools, the Ivy League, and state schools across the nation. However, the University of California (UC) system has decided to go test-blind, choosing not to evaluate test scores in the admissions process even if students report them on the application. Though this might mitigate student concerns about taking tests, going test-blind creates larger problems for the overall applicant pool.
A test-blind policy fails to consider the hard work of students who were able to take the test before March 2020. For many students, studying for standardized tests is a long ordeal with hours of practice questions over the span of months. Going test-optional ensures students who were unable to take the test have an equal opportunity of applying to college as those who already have. A test-blind policy isn’t fair to those who have already taken the exam.
More importantly, these tests are one of the few objective standards on college applications. Removing the SAT and ACT from the process would require schools to mainly consider extracurriculars and GPA— both of which are a product of the region you live in, the school you attend, and your socioeconomic background. Those who are more affluent have more opportunities for extracurricular activities due to factors like family connections, a large variety of school clubs and organizations, and money to pay for more expensive opportunities. Even GPA isn’t that objective since each school has different policies, grading systems, and teachers. Some schools practice grade inflation while others practice grade deflation, making it hard to take a GPA at face value. Even two different teachers at the same school teaching the same class greatly differ in teaching style with the possibility of one class being more rigorous than the other. Standardized tests, however, offer colleges an objective metric to assess a student’s capabilities. Especially with COVID-19, types of extracurriculars and grading systems will look very different this year, which is why it’s even more important that colleges use the SAT and ACT in the admissions process.
Critics of standardized testing often say that such tests favor wealthy students who can afford private tutoring, prep courses, and prep books, and they see the test-blind policy as a step closer to a more holistic and equitable admissions process. Unfortunately, wealth is a factor in every sector of society, but standardized tests offer opportunities for all students regardless of backgrounds. Free resources are abundant on the internet such as Khan Academy’s SAT course and the College Board’s free previously administered tests. Additionally, the SAT and ACT subreddits give students access to hundreds of practice questions and resources. Beyond preparation, the ACT and SAT are designed to test a student’s knowledge in English, Math, and Science. The SAT doesn’t measure intelligence or memorization but rather tests knowledge students learn from the required school curriculum in core subjects, which means you can still get a great score without paying for prep classes and private tutoring. By taking advantage of free resources such as checking out prep books from a local library, students can identify and fill gaps in understanding, learn reading techniques, and master time management methods for test day, all without spending a dime.
Ultimately, a test-optional policy would positively benefit most students by recognizing the hard work of those who tested and acknowledging the struggles of those who can’t. Standardized tests are just another opportunity for colleges to assess a student’s ability and choosing not to consider them at all just introduces more uncertainty into an already subjective process.