Opinion: The SAT Has Run its Course

There have been suggestions that the SAT may no longer exist in the future, as some say the exam doesn’t truly represent a student's abilities. For many of us, the exam is something that we're thrown into without the slightest idea of how to achieve success. Regardless, we are told that we better earn a good score if we want to get into a decent college.

Simply put, the SAT has run its course. It doesn't fit in well with the modern landscape of education. Many students can't afford expensive tutors. Others are simply awful at taking high-stakes exams. Mental health issues due to COVID-19 and remote learning have significantly affected a student's chances of attaining the high score they so desire, not to mention the extremely time-consuming nature of extracurricular activities like sports, band, and theater. We're stressed to the max.

Fortunately, the SAT is changing now that the College Board has acknowledged the amount of stress that it has put on students. These changes include making the exam completely digital and shorter. Unfortunately, this isn't happening until 2024 in the U.S.

When you think about it, though, there’s really no good reason for the SAT to exist anymore, as there are other representatives in a high schooler's portfolio, such as their transcript, personal narrative, and teacher recommendation, which, in theory, should provide a college with everything they need to know.