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Standardized Testing: The Big Picture
College Admissions and Academic Goals
Your child may have to take tests like the SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ because they're a requirement for college admissions. Many colleges require the SAT for admissions because it's an important additional piece of information in admitting students.
Standardized for Your Protection
It's tough for colleges to compare students who come from different regions, experiences, and kinds of schools. There are thousands of high schools, and courses and grading standards can vary.
An "A" earned in the same course taught by different teachers in your child's school may not represent exactly the same amount of work, the same teaching, or the same level of learning. Likewise, an "A" earned in the same course but in different schools and different parts of the country may not really be the same.
Test results are an added tool for admission counselors to evaluate students from many different high schools.
Admission Is Never Based on Test Scores Alone
Test scores supplement, not replace, other important information, like your child's high school transcript. For most college admission offices, things like your child's grades and courses are still considered the best academic predictors.
Keep in mind, too, that these tests do not measure motivation, creativity, or special talents (even though these qualities will contribute to your child's success in college and throughout life). A test is just one of many tools that help colleges make admission decisions.
Tests Are Tools for Your Child, Too
Depending on the test, the scores can help students to:
- Compare themselves with the student body at the colleges they're considering.
- Show what they have achieved and learned throughout their academic life.
- Assess strengths and weaknesses, to see where they should focus work.
