During 2020, Conway High School finally made the decision to step away from the pressuring academic validation that standardized tests hold. Due to COVID shutting testing dates down, the school needed to lean on something constant, and maybe even a bit more important. Something that had been there all along. The students’ GPA.
Isolation and spacing during this time kept many students from having access to take standardized tests, like the ACT. Because of this, many colleges had to shift gears and put the pin in requiring test scores for a better chance at admission.
This change will bring in huge opportunities for students who are applying for scholarships and getting ready for higher education. Mr. Martin, one of the high school’s counselors, said that, “I honestly think this will help students because a lot have problems with testing anxiety, or just for whatever reason don’t test well. But in school… they’re more comfortable, and their GPAs are usually higher than their standardized test scores.” Senior Halie Gates adds, ‘I feel like the ACT puts more emphasis on how well you can take a test and doesn’t measure how intelligent or how much material you know.” Junior Osvaldo Castillo, who plans to take ACT later this weekend, said,”Some students don’t test well but all the pressure on GPA can be hard too.”
Even today, many students aren’t aware of this helpful upgrade. Now that most of the tests are out of the way, their grades are the only thing standing in the way of their opportunities. They must be informed so that they can work harder in their classes and strive for a GPA worth noticing.
Ava Turnbow • Jan 8, 2026 at 2:46 pm
This is very good informational writing. You should write more about college statistics for students.
Abigail • Jan 5, 2026 at 8:23 am
this is a very good informational and interesting topic. You should write about the effect of COVID in school systems
Abigail • Jan 5, 2026 at 8:19 am
This is a very interesting and insightful, your a very good writer. You should write about the effect of how COVID changed the way our school system is and how it functioned before and after