Effects of the Sat on Students

Terrelle McCain
Bill Morris
English 111-07
11 June 2013
The Effects of the SAT on Students
The Scholastic Assessment Test properly known as the SAT has become a major test in high school students, or college bound student lives. The SAT has become a test that determines the future of many high school students. Some worry about this "important test", as it determines if many will get into the Ivy League college of their parents dream. From the start of middle school, teenagers practice for this test, begin to worry, stress, and pay for hundreds of practice tests as if they are preparing to go off to college the next year. Middle Schools are now adding SAT practice tests, and many of the SAT curriculums into the class curriculum, as if the SAT is more important than a Childs future in life. Needless to say, adding the SAT into Americas schools is not a bad idea, though many may wonder is it all worth it? Articles and forums have brought to the attention of what kind of effect is this having on the youth? Preparing for a test that may not guarantee an entrance into college is causing the youth to stress about a test that is not preparing the average child for the future, or the true realities of life. Removing the SAT scores as a determining factor for entrance into college may take away much needed stress in a teenager’s lie, as it may become one less worry for the average student in America.

There is one average kid in each classroom in America. This child may not have the brains of Elvin Einstein, but he has the athletic abilities of Magic Johnson. Even though he is good at sports; will his average grades and SAT scores be good enough for him to get into top Ivy League colleges such as Yale or Duke? While there is one other student in the classroom who has the mind of Elvin Einstein, and excellent SAT scores and grades that will guarantee him a spot into Harvard. In America, there are students who are in this exact situation as they face the end and beginning of their lives after high school. All through high school, students imagine their lives in college as they imagine themselves as future Heisman champs, and doctors; although they have to complete the biggest chapter before entering college, the SAT. As junior year approaches, students begin to stress and worry only about scoring a perfect score so that they may prove to their parents and peers that they too can accomplish this monster that will make or break their lives. Students who do not perform well throughout the school year are taking these tests, and doing poorly. As time approaches for the score reports to come out, students are facing some kind of anxiety on whether or not they should share this information to their friends. According to the Oakland Local Archive; "This is a standardized test based on logic, not on how students perform," Nathan, said. "It is a terrible judge of a student." Average students are having this stress poured on them, as they may or may not be ready for college. The average combined SAT score for admission into Duke University for two thousand twelve is about two thousand or higher. The average student in America is lucky enough to get at a combined score of fifteen hundred. Is the SAT a test that is uplifting the future of America, or is it just intimidating the youth? Many students not only take the test once, but they have at least taken the test twice or more so that they may get into top colleges just as their peers. As hard as the first test was, the second may have been a little easier; though it was not cheaper. Students who do not receive waivers or some type of assistance have to pay for these tests each time it is a taken. Not all students have the financial abilities of other kids, as it brings much more stress on how they will be able to pay for these tests. Parents, who did not attend college, ponder on what is being taught to their children in school. As opposed to when they were in school, things were much different growing up. Most parents were being taught on the morals and values of life for the near future, as opposed to being taught on the importance of taking the SAT. As students transition from high school; parents want only the best for their children as they do not want to see their children fail as they stress about taking the SAT, and not the important values for life. College is more than excellent SAT scores; it has the choice of freedom, and responsibilities for young adults as they transition from high school to college. A high school student who has spent most of his time stressing and worrying about a test that will determine an entrance into college has forgotten about the other obstacles in life. He is forgetting about the responsibilities such as paying bills, and going to class on his own without the help of his parents. The task of being independent, having morals, and respect for other individuals as respect is one of the most important beauties in life. Students in America are stressing over a test that is occupying their minds; whereas it does not prepare them for the rest of their lives and the “what ifs” in life. What if they receive a degree, and become unemployed after college? What if they get to college and totally hate it, or what if they get to college and flunk out? The big question has now become: Was the SAT that important? The stress all throughout high school, and the anxiety that they faced has now become was it worth it? The effect of the SAT is stress that should not be added to a high school student life. As the SAT should be one less thing to worry about; as a student should worry about the next big transition, life.