Standardized Tests: Are They More than a Rite of Passage?
Your high school GPA is 3.8. You’ve taken college-prep, honors, and even dual-enrollment courses. You’re clearly a bright student. But most colleges require you to take a standardized test for admissions. Just how important is this process?
Because standardized tests provide significant data for college admissions and awarding scholarships, it’s important to recognize them as a vital measure of academic ability and potential.
Here are three reasons why standardized tests are an important component of the college admissions process:
- Standardized tests place students on a relatively level playing field.
National standardized tests place students—whether from public, private, or home schools—on relatively equal footing. Combined, the three typical standardized tests (SAT, ACT, and CLT) annually compare well over a million students from different backgrounds and states. As a result, scores provide admissions counselors and scholarship committees with a reasonably reliable way to compare students’ academic abilities against a sizable population. - Transcripts tell colleges what courses a student took, but they neither include the scope of content nor the degree of assessment.
When our admissions committee examines high school transcripts, they find that most students have close to a 4.0. Applicants should remember that a GPA does not reveal the difficulty of a class, the level of the teacher’s demands, or institutional standards. In fact, teachers may consider a student’s temperament, work ethic, or engagement in class when they assign grades. Admissions teams simply can’t discern the course’s scope or the level of scrutiny with which the teacher assessed students.
There is no grade inflation on national tests like the ACT, CLT, or SAT. That’s why admissions committees rely on standardized tests to provide clarity. - “But I’m a bad test-taker, and it doesn’t reflect my real academic ability.”
It’s absolutely true that standardized tests do not assess every academic skill area. Some students are naturally better on one test over another. But the good news is that test taking is a skill that can be developed by any college-bound student. If you aren’t a naturally gifted test-taker, consider using practice exams, tutoring services, and specialized books to help you improve your scores. With the right instruction and your own academic diligence, you may be able to increase your scores.
A Recent Development
Technology has added an additional consideration for admissions committees. Given the prevalence of artificial intelligence tools, it can be difficult to discern students’ actual intelligence. If students relied too closely on AI during high school, their reasoning skills, mastery of content, and processing speeds may be negatively affected. Given this reality, admissions committees must be more circumspect in their admissions processes to discern students’ capabilities. Standardized tests are completed without the availability of notes or computers, making them a helpful tool for assessing a student’s independent thinking skills.
In light of these considerations, here are four practical ways to prepare to apply for a college like New Aberdeen:
1. Beginning in the 10th grade, take practice tests to determine in which areas you need to grow. Your results can influence your choice of 11th and 12th grade classes in preparation for college.
2. Study how to take these tests, and practice taking them. While the basic knowledge that tests assess must be learned independently, students can better familiarize themselves with the types of questions asked and how questions are phrased.
3. Diversify your tests. Some students find that they naturally score better on one test over another. New Aberdeen’s admissions team encourages college-bound high school students to take the Classical Learning Test, in part because the texts come from familiar works of literature.
Most importantly, focus on developing timeless skills and character qualities. Read copiously. Worship well by absorbing God’s word and singing. Serve others both in your home and in your community. Spend lots of time writing by journaling, crafting personal essays, or writing blogs. Look for opportunities to speak in front of adults.
If you focus your energies strategically, you’re more likely to become the type of college student that aligns with your God-given abilities and passions.
