In the past few years the debate over standardized testing should continue or not has been floating around. Taking standardized tests out of the equation would increase the significance in students’ grade point average. While both sides have good arguments I personally agree with getting rid of standardized tests and favoring GPA.
Standardized testing has been a significant key factor in college acceptance. ACT and SAT scores have been on the forefront of every student’s mind of trying to get the highest score possible. However this over desired score has led to decline in many students’ mental health. The stress over studying for one test has brought anxiety towards students on the belief that a test score depicts their entire future – which is simply not the case. Not only is standardized testing negatively affecting students, but it is also not fully accurate. Colleges can not judge a student’s academic performance over one test score. Many students have test anxiety or struggle in general when taking a test. For schools to put students through four years of high school for the purpose of retaining specific knowledge for one test is unfair towards students.
GPA is heavily favored to be preferred over standardized testing. While GPA can be a struggle to maintain, it can show more of a realistic profile towards college admissions officers than a test score can. A student’s GPA shows their work ethic over the course of their entire high school career. The GPA scale shows their specific strengths and weaknesses in certain courses over a period of time to create their grade point average. Favoring GPA will make it more fair to students by demonstrating their work ethic over the past years.
In the end GPA shows a better understanding of a college applicant than a test result can. Showing years of hard work is better than a superscore on a test. While taking out standardized testing for college acceptance would change the overall process of getting into colleges, it would be more beneficial for students when admissions officers are reviewing their transcripts and observing their core strengths that helped rank their GPA. Even though the college admissions process has been centered around standardized testing for many years does not mean it can never be changed. Colleges should begin focusing more on GPA instead of a test score, so students can be accepted into a college that benefits them the most.
