Standardized Testing Argumentative Essay

This paper discusses the detrimental effects standardized tests have on students who plan to continue education past high school, and the issues associates with these tests. Standardized tests are a common procedure for kids in elementary school, middle school, and especially high school. Nonetheless, the most influential standardized tests are those that determine future colleges: SAT and ACT. Although many colleges depend on SAT and ACT scores to selectively choose the best applicants, these scores do not always correlate with academic success in the collegiate level. Standardized tests are also very controversial, incorporating partiality against various races and classes. High-school GPA and curriculum is a much accurate indicator of academic success, and many universities take on the test-optional approach to evaluate other factors aside from standardized tests such as sample letters, portfolios, teacher …show more content…
Most universities consider standardized tests in their admission process, yet many colleges have begun to take a different approach in selecting the best applicants to attend their universities. Currently, more than 850 out of 3,000 universities take on the test-optional approach (Belkin, 2015). With growing controversial issues involved with standardized tests, many test-optional colleges have placed less consideration on test-scores, and increased value on other factors such as sample letters, portfolios, teacher recommendations, and interviews. Despite the belief that standardized tests allow colleges to select the best applicants, colleges should de-emphasize test scores in their admission process, because standardized tests have been recognized as biased against various races and classes, high-school GPA and curriculum is a better indicator of academic success, and test-optional universities lessen barriers within their