By: Mia Cho
Managing Editor
The Coronavirus pandemic has caused many schools to shut down, making it impossible to conduct in-person standardized testing. Because of this, many colleges and universities have made their applications for the class of 2021 to be test-optional. Although the situation at hand is difficult, it should not eliminate the need for standardized testing in college admissions.
Schools such as the University of California (UC) schools, University of Southern California, Cornell, Williams College, and more have declared that for the class of 2021, their applications will be “test-optional,” meaning those who have taken the SAT or ACT have the opportunity to submit their scores. However, this decision has also led to the circulation of the idea that standardized testing is unnecessary in college admissions. For example, the UC system to enact a five-year plan to completely phase out standardized testing administered by third parties. The plan states that for the class of 2021 and 2022, UC schools will go test-optional, and for the class of 2023 and 2024 they will go “test blind,” meaning scores may be submitted, but they will not play a role in admissions. This new plan enacted by the UC system is the first of its kind, and other schools may follow suit. Although the Coronavirus pandemic has put everyone’s’ lives on hold and it is currently nearly impossible to conduct in-person standardized testing, this testing is necessary in order to assess students.
Also, even if the SAT and ACT in college admission are eliminated, students cannot escape standardized testing. Standardized testing is necessary in order to measure students’ abilities and knowledge once entering a certain field. For example, those who wish to practice law must pass the bar exam and those who wish to work in medicine must pass the United States Medical License. Not only are the SAT and ACT a way for colleges and universities to measure students’ knowledge and skill, but they familiarize students with the standardized testing environment.
Many are proponents for completely eliminating the SAT and ACT from college admissions because it may not be a reflection of their true potential as a student. Because there are direct, statistical correlations between a students’ SAT or ACT score with their race and socioeconomic class, many find that standardized testing simply limits racial minorities and those of lower socioeconomic class. The college admissions scandal of 2019 also amplified this issue and was a display of the role money and privilege play in college admissions.
Although the SAT and ACT are not the perfect standardized test to measure all students’ potential, it is the most democratic aspect of the college admissions process and should not be eliminated. Although neither the SAT or ACT are all-encompassing assessments of students’ true potential, all of the exams are administered in the same fashion, and all exams are the same format and difficulty. Students of lower socioeconomic class typically have less opportunity to strengthen their college applications than those living in wealthy areas. For example, Costa has electives and clubs to support almost everyone’s’ passions to help ensure students are involved in strong extracurricular activities to prepare them for the future. Also, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District receives millions of dollars from the local community through the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation that brings more opportunity to Costa students. Resources at Costa such as the College and Career center and even English teachers who help edit students’ personal statements are resources those of lesser socioeconomic class have less access to.
Although the role of standardized testing is controversial, it is the most democratic aspect of the college admissions process and should not be eliminated because of a pandemic.
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