Hoping to create a universal way to determine if students were prepared for college level course work, several leading American universities began creating the first SAT in the late 1800s. What they didn’t know then was the recurring controversy that would later erupt throughout the country in the centuries to follow as people would debate over the impact of a single test.

SAT tests are great for testing the “perfect on paper” student, for example, one who is capable of applying reading, writing, and math skills in a set amount of time. According to the SAT, these three subjects are crucial for one’s success during college and throughout life.

Wrong.

Are leadership and communication skills not crucial to success?

Isn’t confidence and passion crucial to success?

Whatever happened to happiness?

The truth is the most important things needed to lead a successful journey in college and life are not tested in the SAT.

Colleges throughout the United States are coming to this realization. Whether it’s becoming test optional or test flexible, high-ranking institutions are helping to ease the stress of needing to perform well on the SAT. These colleges know that a student is much more than just a test score.

Temple University is one college that has come on board and now does not require an applicant to submit his or her SAT scores.

Universities who do require the scores are missing out on a large quantity of students who have the potential to soar above and beyond. Their only concern is the students who can represent their institution with the best rankings.

What about the students who can exemplify their knowledge perfectly, just in a different way?

What about the students who become so stressed about doing well on the test that they become overwhelmed with fear instead of confidence?

What about the students who cannot sit still long enough to be able to focus on the test?

Unfortunately, these students who do have the ability to be successful in college and life are not given an equal opportunity in colleges who require SAT scores. Colleges are becoming so consumed with evaluating test scores that they forget about the skills that really matter.

Earning an excellent score on the SAT won’t really matter later in life. Being able to apply one’s knowledge in reading, writing, and math will not help to be a better parent, coach, principal, or business owner.

The pressure to do well on the SAT is not only taking a toll on students, but also teachers. Whether a student learns best using visual, auditory, or hands-on activities, educators are constantly accommodating their various learning styles to provide them with a successful learning experience. Teachers are then expected to administer a standardized test, such as the SAT, to students with not so standard learning abilities.

The system for such a highly regarded test needs to be revised and improved immediately. The SAT was once thought of as an equal way to assess students’ knowledge and ability to be successful in college and life, but has proven to be wrong. If we do not accommodate learning styles of students on the SAT like we do in the classroom, then students will continue to be assessed unfairly.