Grace Goldmeer
Staff Reporter
Due to the shutdown of public schools and testing centers, fewer students got the change to take, or retake standardized tests, such as the ACT and SAT. Over forty-five colleges across the country are editing their admissions requirements for the fall 2021 semester.
Because of this year's unexpected chance and the poor representation of students, some major universities have announced new test-optional policies that will improve eligibility for this semester only, others are looking into eliminating this kind of standardized testing. Fairtest.org has a complete list of schools waving the tests for next year.
The testing opportunities will not stop if certain schools decide to stop using them. ACT Inc. expresses its concern for students and assures them that testing will be available as soon as possible, but until then they are using this time to grow the abilities of the program. Eduard Colby, spokesman for ACT Inc says.“we are ...currently exploring and evaluating new testing experiences, including remote proctoring for at-home testing, based on our online research and development..”
The ACT and SAT are two of the biggest tests a student can take, they determine college admissions results and how much scholarship money can be earned off of merit-based scholarships. Students are asked to start studying their Freshman year to test their Junior year, but even after preparing themselves, some students do not test well because of test anxiety and general fear of failure. These things can affect a good student's score and turn them into a poor candidate for otherwise appropriate schools.
This extended break due to COVID-19 is a unique opportunity for students. They can use this time to prepare for these standardized tests or find other resources to get them scholarships for their upcoming university careers. It is important to stay updated on what your chosen college is doing and the next available testing dates for the future.
Image Credit: Green Chameleon on Unsplash
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