I don't know if the ACT or SAT should be optional or not, but there really should be some form of assessment for college. Whether it is a series of essays or standardized tests, it's a good idea to figure out if somebody has the knowledge and ability to make it through another four years of school or if they would be better off going to a tech school or straight into the workforce. Some people just don't have the brains or drive for higher ed.
I took the SAT twice. First time I didn't take a practice course andgot a dissapointing score. The second time a took a course, one which wasn't very good, and I bought the book. I did not do much better.
You had to take special classes? Wow my high school sucked because I didn't even know about these special classes. In my junior year of high school my english teacher (1 of my teachers) told us about the SAT and how you couldn't really study for it. Even if they did tell me to study it wouldn't have helped. I saw math questions on there I didn't know what the hell it was and till this day I have never seen that math again and I'm in college now.
I'm not familiar with these tests (I'm not from America, I grew up in Malaysia). I've only heard of the SATs since a few of my friends have taken them. This might sound a little ignorant but, are these the only options for pre-university (or is there no pre-u in America?) Also, from all these videos I've realised that student loans are a problem is that the case with the majority of university students?
I come from an inner city school, and while I agree that poorer students are at a disadvantage in terms of test scores, I'd generally say that it's not because we can't afford all these special classes. It's usually more because the good teachers avoid these schools like the plague, or the average class coursework is pulled down by lack of talent in classrooms. I scored 98th percentile on the PSAT, and received scholarships from my testing ability. The missing opportunity is in the classroom.
@KarateKidX Some people don't work well under time limits. It makes them uncontrollably nervous and rash, and the test results are not an accurate reflection of that person's actual intellectual capabilities. There are better alternatives for judging a student's college-readiness than standardized testing. College is all about reading, writing, research and critical thinking (even within the sciences), not filling in little bubbles as fast as possible...
@lolnonamesleft "There is no way around getting to know how much knowledge an applicant has, without a standardized test score"
I must say that is a very narrow view. Canada does not have any those types of tests. I took at math test to figure out what class I should go in but that's about it.
We have standardized tests too (don't know how SATs look like, but they should be simmilar) called the Matura Exam, and it's usually quite accurate, most of the time it's +- 1 grade (in comparison to the grades during the last year or 2 of high-school). Except if you go to a bad school, where you slack off for 4 years. Do you rly think it's fair that I bust my ass off in a good school and don't get accepted, cause I had worse grades than a guy who went to an easy school?
Why aren't there exams at the end of high school in each subject? That way no one has to pay for a meaningless test and no one has to pay $1200 for an overrated prep course.
@jadotjolais, there are exams at the end of High School in each subject, it's called final exams, it happens everytime a Semester or Trimester ends and students have to take the test which makes up usually is 20 - 50% of their final grade. But however these final exams only conver what a High School class learned during the semester / trimester, it isn't national. Which is why the ACT / SAT got started so it's national and more reliable for college admissions.
Here's an idea: not everyone should go to college. ACT/SAT are useful even if they have their flaws. Take AP classes if you want to be rated highly even with a poorer test score.
I really don't think we EVER took a class on the ACT/SAT tests, so I have no idea what you're talking about there? Just signed up for a day, and took the test.
The test helped me with selecting my college classes. It made me rethink what I would do.... like I had a decent score for science, so I'm pretty sure I'll be skipping an into chemistry class and going to the one I actually need for my major which in turn saves me money.
These kind of videos confuse me a lot because the system is so different in America. Though I'm guessing the SATs and whatnot are pretty much the same as our student examination which is also standardized. But is it that when you apply to universities in the US you don't take an entrance exam, then? Because here that's the key part in getting into a university. Do they just check your SAT scores or what? Sorry if these questions seem stupid but I really don't know.
@Tuuliska yeah...pretty much (for most) colleges/universities, instead of an entrance exam, the SATs/ACTs are used...but I think they're pointless...my high school though has an exam which measures what you've actually learned in high school and you can't graduate unless if you pass it...which i still think is pointless but instead of wasting paper and being useless like the SAT & ACT, it actually measures something important...
how about instead of an autocratic arbitrary testing system, we just learn what we want, how we want, and show that knowledge by what we're able to to. if i want to be a programmer and i made a program myself that i would have a use for, there's motivation without stress, practicality, and shows real world working knowledge(or a test). all educational administrators i have experience with show no interest in thought or willingness to change and belong in jail.
@lolnonamesleft What about knowledge outside of verbal/maths? History, geography, sciences, literature, foreign language, technology/electives, etc. cannot be found on the tests but on high school transcript.
What about knowledge outside of verbal/maths? History, geography, sciences, literature, foreign language, technology/electives, etc. cannot be found on the tests but on high school transcript.
I took the SAT the last year they didn't allow you to use a calculator on the math section. I probably would have doubled my math score had I been able to punch numbers and try things out quickly and easily. I scored in the top 98% in math on the PSAT a year earlier which allowed calculators at the time. I was pretty pissed when I found out the following year they allowed calculators on the SAT.
Getting a high score on the current form of the SAT is very feasible WITHOUT prep classes... I took the SAT twice; the first time I scored 1860, the second time I scored a 2100 (after working on the math I had trouble with the first time.) I took no preparatory classes- I tested, worked on my weaknesses, and tested again.
ACT and SAT were never actually "required" anywhere.
University admissions are highly discretionary, and If you didn't take those tests, the person deciding your admission can still find potential reasons to admit you.
If you can't manage a decent score on the SAT or ACT, how are you going to manage to pass a midterm or a final? You can retake those tests as many times as you like, too. We have too many inflated GPAs in our high schools for that to be a credible representation of a student's ability. We need a way to test hard skills for university students.
If you can't manage a decent score on the SAT or ACT, how are you going to manage to pass a midterm or a final? You can retake those tests as many times as you like, too. We have too many inflated GPAs in our high schools for that to be a credible representation of a student's ability. We need a way to test hard skills for university students.
buulllllllllllllshhiiiiiiiiiiiiit...... if I had to sit through that damn ACT for two DAMN hours then fuck it! I use to think that taking it was a load .... til I heard about ACT scholarships :D
i came from a poor area and a poor school, didn't prep for the ACT or SAT at all. managed to get a 27 on the ACT and i think ~1700 on the SAT. i'm far from being a genius, just slightly above average, so if i can get that high with no preparation and low-quality secondary education, it shouldn't be unreasonable to expect an average person to do well on them too. i don't get why test taking is such a unique skill, unless there's tons of high schools that never give any tests.
Seems like lowering the bar to me. Make the classes free and keep the tests. The test is a filter to make sure they can handle the stress. I see the drop out rates going up because of the lack of ability to handle the stress of college.
I used to think SATs were stupid, however they are set so that students SUCCEED. As bright as you are, how in the heck is a college going to know all 20k applicants? Its the colleges way of bringing people of a certain calibur to their school so that the people who are not qualified do not get in and get trampled. College is competetive. If you arent ready for a certain school, you wont get in. Take JC and transfer wherever you want after you proove yourself.
@lolnonamesleft i doubt that people who are not studious will apply to universities(unless their parents were paying for them to get accepted) and you have to do good in school to get accepted to a good school anyway, you arent going to a university with a 1.5 gpa, besides those test there are other nessesary requirements to get into a school that in most cases cover the basic knowlege that you speak of without costing poor families a 1000 dollars. ps ignorance is the reason you go to college
I remember that when I took the SAT several of my friends in high school didn't take it simply because they couldn't afford it. My school didn't have any funding to wave the cost of the test, so many of them had to go to a community college for two years before they could transfer somewhere else.
"I'm a bad test taker," just means you're dumb as shit. You don't even need to take these prep classes to do well if you possessed some modicum of intelligence and actually read textbooks and did homework in school. Stupid ass kids. Colleges need to have more stringent requirements.
@MaicoMoon i know people who got 4.0s in high school and single digit scores on the ACT. GPA is a horrible way of determining intelligence, many high schools have the bar so low that all you have to do is show up to all your classes to get straight A's
woah bias much ana?? ur just mad cause your shitty sat scores prevented u from goin to a good college.
when i took the sat i took a free class and guess what, it didnt help much at all. what helped was practicing the problems that were going to be on the test.
please tell me this, if the $1200 to take a prep class is too much, how do they afford to pay for college? even going to a public college thats about 2-3 percent of what you are going to be paying in the end.
@23albanian student loans first, second you made the point against your self you studied the questions that were going to be on the test that is not a real assesment you had only vital information given to you over and over. taking a test should involve disernment that allows you to break down information given as a whole, not which answer out of my basket is the right one cause i bet you cant take what you paid 1200 dollars for anywhere else unlike a true education
@23albanian scholarships and loans. and it's not all at once. my parents couldn't afford for me to go to those prep classes. i just got some practice books from used bookstores and friends.
I'm a senior in high school right now, and the SAT class I take (Solutions Bay Area) is not those waste of time classes like AMES where they just tell you skills. Preparing for the SAT and ACT is just practice, practice, practice.There is no short-cut.
when i was in high school i took and SAT class for 70 bucks, the cost was for the book and luckily we had a couple teachers that taught it for pretty cheap. Nice guys trying to help us do well.
I took my SAT test. What a stupid test. It means nothing. I ended up going to university in Canada due to the low cost of schooling. These tests mean nothing in Canada or the rest of the world.
I got a 1480 on my SAT, first time, none of these stupid classes. Know why? Because I'm intelligent. Thus I deserve to be looked at favorably by colleges because I'm intelligent. Seems fair to me.
@Chaoitcme Your use of the word "dictate" doesn't make sense, but I know what you mean. I'm not saying I'm intelligent because I did well on a standardized test. I did well because I'm intelligent. I know some people aren't good test-takers, but it's a skill they'll simply have to acquire, just like any other skill they'll need to be successful.
@EWLeon Yeah dictate was a poor word choice. These test really mean nothing in the real world. Once you are out of high school and in college or university the SAT test means nothing. I ended up going to school in Canada and they don't have the SAT test. I did spend time preparing for the SAT and I did alright. Learning how to take standardized test really is not a skill needed to be successful due to the fact that once you are out of high school you will probably never take one again.
@Chaoitcme tests do not indicate intelligence but they do indicate that a person can concentrate, remain calm, and can use common sense.Last time I checked, colleges weren't picking students only because they were intelligent. How active and outgoing a person is, is apparently important so a student who is collected and can keep a cool head in a tense situation is also a great asset to a school.
@apoorva0426 Some people just do not take test well. It has nothing to do with intelligence. Many schools do base enrollment on SAT scores which really does not showcase what a student can do.
@Chaoitcme dude, i just said that tests don't indicate intelligence. Furthermore, the SAT scores indicate that a student can be calm, relaxed, and navigate an exam which really measures common sense. The qualities that I just listed are, in my opinion, very important.
Some schools make the SAT/ACT mandatory even for transfer students, which is complete BS. If a transfer student has completed 60+ credits and has a GPA of 3.5-4.0, you would think that would be enough to qualify a student for potential admission. Not all people who go to a junior college have had the opportunity to take the SAT/ACT. So I think it should be optional for at least transfer situations.
@MNICY I been accepted in a college in BC with only my transcript from high school in Québec, and the college in question only ask me a little English test to say that I am able to read and write in English. And my grades are all right, not great... I'm a B students, but if I work harder I would get better grade (just think that education is not just courses, and I'm not always motivated)... And this is given that I can't spell for shit, that English is only a second language.
@MNICY No need to congratulate me, the system is really good without SAT and ACT -> it's just goes to your point that standardized test is BS, at least in their current form. I would have had a really bad score on the SAT... When, I'm a reasonably good student.
I Teach ACT/SAT for the Princeton review. Both tests are beatable fairly easily. Classes are just super expensive but definitely worth it if you can afford it. I think standardized tests have their place to determine how well prepared students are from each high school as a tool to judge high schools, but not as an individual indicator.
@Adam12088 A lot of someones score can be determined on how far out of high school someone is. I know straight out of high school I would of scored pretty high because a lot of the test material would of still been fresh in my young trained mind. Now, ten years later? half the stuff I learned that I havent used I probably forgot, so yeah I would need the classes.
this is one topic where i dont agree the TyT. i took the pretest in highschool. it was free. i took the SAT twice and got a 1670 on it. but im not bragging. my point is, that if a person cant stay calm during the SAT and get a decent score on it how do you think they are going to be able to cope with the stress of college work. the SAT is nothing compared to college. just wait. when more and more colleges stop requiring the SAT there will be an increase in college drop outs.
@ScubzMcTalBowling Atleast your school offered a pre-test. My brother scored a lowly 17 on the ACT test and went on to earn two masters. He even graduated magna cum laude.
@TamaNewb, nope. SAT is a aptitude test, they test you how well you know in certain school subjects such as Math, English, Science, and Writing, plus there's sub-versions of the test only focus on a subject like Physics or German. They cover the operations which you would normally learn in school than they present you questions of those operations to see how well you know that subject. It's not an IQ test, anyone, even someone with an IQ under 70 can work hard and still achieve a good score.
I went to an Urban school and we were no way NEAR As concerned about the SATs as we should have been . I personally never understood the hype around the media & movies .
Not only do I not think you should have to take the SAT to get into college, I don't think that it should even be considered as that test was complete and utter bullshit, that measured nothing except for how well you can take the SAT. I can't speak for the ACT, since I've never taken it.
@peleproductions It's basically the same, only more topics. SAT is math and English. ACT is math, reading comprehension, English, and science. It's all mutliple choice, with an optional essay portion. The scoring is different too, the highest you can get on the ACT is 36, whereas SAT is 2000, I think . . .
On the SAT, I scored 720 on math, 580 on English (tested 1991). This is the exact reverse of what I should have expected - I was getting solid A's in English class for two years running, and solid C's in Analytical Geometry/Calculus during the same time frame.
Either the test sucked, or my teachers sucked, or both. Probably all of the above . . .
The SAT was initially put in place to give less affluent people a fair shot. Since everyone writes the same test, it was intended to be a level playing field. Now, it's not perfect. It's not a perfect predictor of aptitude, but it has some predictive value. Secondly, the wealthy continue to be at advantage due to access to test-taking courses. Lastly, do we want one 3 hour test to be so important? Anxiety and random aberrations from typical performance are huge risks in such situations.
And now as all the countries begin to understand what a boolshit tests like that are we in Russian of couse get into it with our Unified State Exam :)
DePaul like Wake Forest, Arizona, and Providence College has gone test-optional, which is the new trend. Even NYU only requires two sections of the test. However, most people believe these schools will only accept a very small amount of test-optional students if any. Search YouTube for Test Optional Colleges and click on the second option and listen to the former college admission counselor call it dishonest, because test-optional students will be the last consideration.
Thank YHWH. I got a laughable 14 on my ACT my junior year, 18 the second time. Maybe, possibly, a 22 the third time if I had decided to take it again? Said fuck it. Went to college after I graduated from high school, and graduated cum laude with a B.A. Now I am in graduate school. System reboot.
Anyone who does poorly on the SAT or ACT is not very intelligent. I'm sorry if that hurts any of your feelings, but it is the truth. Both exams test BASIC algebra, reading comprehension and grammar/writing. The test results are much more reliable than GPA's. The difference in difficulty from one school to the next is so vast that high school grades are almost entirely meaningless. Standardized tests are the most fair way to compare students, as all students are graded on the same material.
@tigerz2350 My brother is an admission counselor at top tier university and he believes those tests are a waste of time and money That a student with a 3.8 gpa, 6 AP courses, and a 22 ACT score is just as smart as a student with a 3.4 gpa, 0 AP courses, and a 28 ACT score. Keep in mind that he scored a 17 on the test. Stil,l he graduated magna cum laude from a good university after transferring from a community college. He later went on to earn two master degrees
WOW in England you NEED to do A- levels to get into university or you will not be considered. Everyone needs to do exams its part of education, i got straight As at A-level, it just takes a lot of hard work, the first thing my teachers told me was for every hour you spend in school you need to do an hour of study at home.
It's not a test of intelligence, it's a test of test taking abilities like the GRE (WHICH WAS A BITCH). I do support making these tests optional. However, how good are the schools making the aforementioned tests optional? Is Depaul a good school?
I did much better on my ACT compared to SAT. Also, most schools are starting to have their own admissions test. Those test are so much better because you aren't under any time restraints. My biggest problem with the SAT was not doing the problems..... It was completing the problems in time.
Tip - In the essay section, reference a famous philosopher. Learn one thing one philosopher said, and you can tie it into everything. Especially Thoreau.
I feel as if the ACT is not a good way to measure intelligence. The College Board assigns these tests, which cost almost $50 if you include the writing portion, and have you take the test. Besides basic skills that people at that level should have (such as basic math, reading, etc.), one doesn't need a whole lot to do good on it. They only need this: a strategy to perform good on said test. Essentially, many are "taught to the test," which doesn't foster intelligence, but trains lab monkeys.
I didn't study for the ACT and I did pretty good on it. After the fact I randomly looked through some books supposedly showing you how to take that exam, and it looked like complete bs to me. personally I think colleges should go based on your scores in highschool, and maybe some essays that you submit during the application process.
Those tests are culturally-biased. I had an 18 on the ACT and I totally bombed my GRE. They are all BS. I have no tests in my MSW program, all papers and presentations. The professor that told me that GRE would break me can kiss my ass.
I never needed the test scores to get into University. I was ranked #3 in my class so I got in through class ranking. Took some assessment test at the university to test out of my basic classes, and went straight into my major. Still took 5 yrs because of the intensive program I was in, had me in 12 different countries through my college career.
I never took the SAT or ACT and was accepted into my small private liberal arts college back in '08. Traditional tests are not incorporated into the curriculum at Prescott College, at all. I love it! It made for a more comfortable learning environment all these years.
Thank god. I'm actually a senior now and I cant WAIT to just get done with that test. And if a college is REALLY gonna judge me over my SAT score they are not gonna be worth my time.
@rohannesburg you can't even memorize on the standardized test which is completely unfair to students and to teachers who have to teach around an effing test.
Yeah, having a standardized test where you can compare what people know would be a bad thing. And that whole BUT IT DOESNT TEST WHAT THEY KNOW argument is really stupid. the ACT gives you enough time to do the test if you remember how to do whats on it. If you need to sit there and think for 10 minutes per problem, youre not going to finish. I got a 31, it really wasnt that hard.
One more step towards making our education system one step worse. And for the record, those smart enough to make the grade in school have never needed the test scores.
I can say that having enough money does help significantly because richer families have the means to be able to focus on education (helped me to get 2380) rather than getting food on the table or getting extra jobs. However doing away with a standardized test is inadvisable because the grading system at schools is not standardized, so there would be no legitimate way to compare students. Often, people suggest that the SAT is bs to justify their less-than-desired performance.
eh, i like the idea of a standardized test. maybe not the sat/act, but definitely something that would objectively answer how well you do versus other students applying to college. you could come from a weakass school that hands out A's like candy, have a 4.5 GPA, and not know anything. you could also work your ass off in a crazy competitive school, be crazy smart, and get a 3.5 GPA. if you don't standardize stuff, all they have to look at is a number and not true academic ability.
I went to a high school with 300 kids in a town with 6k people, it was trash with stupid teachers. The ACT no writing is like $35. I never took a class to prepare for it. I barely paid attention in high school and made a 25 on it half asleep. I have an idea. Instead of buying a $300 phone, buy the act and then when you get an extra $30, buy your phone. People are stupid.
Public education in this country leaves a lot to be desired and socioeconomic status is directly related to academic performance in general. So wouldn't you say those are the root causes of our educational woes? I'd be interested to see what percentage of students who scored high on the SAT did poorly in college and vice-versa. My guess (I have no numbers to back this up at present), plenty of students with low SAT scores do well in college, but not many students with high SAT scores do poorly.
There's no need to take classes for the SATs. Just borrow one of the SAT books from the library and study from that. I personally never looked at one of the books and I did pretty decent on it. The most I did was study from those note cards that had definition of words. And I didn't even go through most of those cards because I was so lazy. lol.
I'm from europe and I don't really understand this SAT system. If you score 2200 out of 2400 possible points, will you then obtain a permission to go to a university like Harvard or Yale, even if your high school marks are miserable?
In other words, is all your pre-college education focused on this one test?
@SoulProvider88 The significance of the SAT is generally overplayed. Most of the admissions to prestigious universities is based on the grades, and if the grades are bad, SAT can only slightly compensate. The other two considerably important factors to admissions are the extracurricular activities as well as essays/letter of recommendation. SAT can help you and it can hurt you but it is definitely not the main factor in admissions. Also, a 2200 is on the low end for these schools.
@SoulProvider88 i think it probably depends on the colleges. i'm sure for the ivy league schools, they look at both sat scores and your grades from high school, though i can't say for sure. in my personal experience, some colleges might do it based on lottery. my friend and i applied for this one school. i had the higher grades and sat score, but she got in why i got rejected. so. who knows. lol.
@lolatyoufools I did hOooooooooooorible on that test I think I got like a 400 or something but now I have a 3.6 GPA and I am working on a bachelor's with four majors
you know what, im actually one of the students that benefit from the ACT since i had no trouble taking it and got a good score on it and didnt take any special classes for the act. but i still think its bullshit and should be gotten rid of. i know plenty of people who are much smarter than me that did much worse on the ACT. the fact that we have so many classes that revolve around scoring well on1 test rather than actually teaching the information and getting kids to understand it is disgusting.
I don't find having a mandatory ACT test is okay, I don't know much about the SAT, but in my highschool, we take plenty practice ACT's and most of my classes have ACT questions as the admit slip, from my experience the ACT is actually testing you on the subject and not the way you can take the test, besides it having a time limit.
@PkmnTrainerJason001 and in Kentucky children with reduced/free lunch AKA me, get to take the test for free at any time, while in our junior year, the school provides a maditory ACT test that is free, besides the money it costs to come in to take it on saturday morning.
High incomes may mean smart parents, who passed on intelligence to you. A lot of rich people are actually smart and earned their wealth, in fact it's likely that most are. And for a given private school, you can expect a given cadre of students to go there, unless one school gives a large scholarship and another doesn't. And it's not about just navigating a test, it has to do with knowledge, and high SAT scores also have a correlation with high IQ.
The reason why standardized tests are important is because of the differences of grading at different schools. Some schools are ultra hard, and a C is a great grade, but at other schools, an A might be given out just for attendance. (cont)
ACT is a joke. Multiple choice? I took it and got 'average' because I am terrible at math, but I did great at everything else. I took it again and got the same score. I didn't purchase the books or anything.
Personally, I think all standardized testing is retarded, accept people based on their grades and what they write to you, and their portfolio if it's for arts.
I am not sure about the "SAT bias" argument. I think biases exist in almost all arenas. If it is a test, it can be studied for. How do I know? Well, the hundreds of kids that have come here over the years from countries like Zimbabwe, Kenya, etc who have never been to the U.S nor do they even speak English at home. They rely on studying the material for 12+ hours a day until they have, at the very least, some understanding. In other words, if you are willing to put in the time, you'll be fine.
@wezhira2007 Many anti-SAT people argues that it's a classist testWhy? Not everyone could afford to pay for SAT classes, and when they do take the test, they did not get smarter, they just learn how to take a test.
I talked to one of the employees at the admittance office in Syracuse university (one of those who review application) and she agreed.
I live in Canada, and the SAT isnt necessary to get into schools, unless you go to an american school, but the high school i went to offered free SAT classes and you could write practice SATs, etc. I think that system is better
Personally I liked the ACT way more then the SAT. Unlike the SAT I didn't take any classes for it and I did much better probably it seemed to test more heavily on stuff we learned in school as opposed to testing how your strategy for taking a test it also didn't take off points for getting the wrong answer.
NO! There is no such thing as a person who "just doesn't test well". That's bullshit. Tests measure knowledge and ability. College is a meritocracy. You have to be smart enough to earn merit in the first place.
@bamboo4tameshigiri I think that's bullshit. I met people who do well in tests and they don't know ANYTHING in their major. In theory, everyone who takes the tests who study, knows the subject. However, some people cannot put that on paper. If they give an oral exam, the stats will change.
@nytehawx I'm OK with an oral exam. What I am not OK with is destroying the meritocracy that is college. I busted ass (between weekends) to keep my 4.0 in premed. Tests are how you evaluate one's knowledge. Granted, some questions are designed to trick you- you're supposed to be smart enough to know that! If you aren't, too bad! That's what a meritocracy is all about. They can't just let anyone in for any reason, the average US citizen is too stupid as it is, compared to the civilized world.
@nytehawx I can't argue with that. They have only been making cut after cut to education (and ALL social programs) so rich people can get more tax breaks. Rich people can afford private schools and tutors. The rest of us have to EARN our way in the academic world and that's how it should be. Its not that way in a capitalist country (AKA the real world), but it is that way in college and destroying that would be sacrilege.
I don't know if the ACT or SAT should be optional or not, but there really should be some form of assessment for college. Whether it is a series of essays or standardized tests, it's a good idea to figure out if somebody has the knowledge and ability to make it through another four years of school or if they would be better off going to a tech school or straight into the workforce. Some people just don't have the brains or drive for higher ed.
Theroha 4 months ago
I took the SAT twice. First time I didn't take a practice course andgot a dissapointing score. The second time a took a course, one which wasn't very good, and I bought the book. I did not do much better.
KennyEverything 5 months ago in playlist More videos from tytuniversity
You had to take special classes? Wow my high school sucked because I didn't even know about these special classes. In my junior year of high school my english teacher (1 of my teachers) told us about the SAT and how you couldn't really study for it. Even if they did tell me to study it wouldn't have helped. I saw math questions on there I didn't know what the hell it was and till this day I have never seen that math again and I'm in college now.
jakeirako 5 months ago
I'm not familiar with these tests (I'm not from America, I grew up in Malaysia). I've only heard of the SATs since a few of my friends have taken them. This might sound a little ignorant but, are these the only options for pre-university (or is there no pre-u in America?) Also, from all these videos I've realised that student loans are a problem is that the case with the majority of university students?
monoxidelullabyx3x 5 months ago
I come from an inner city school, and while I agree that poorer students are at a disadvantage in terms of test scores, I'd generally say that it's not because we can't afford all these special classes. It's usually more because the good teachers avoid these schools like the plague, or the average class coursework is pulled down by lack of talent in classrooms. I scored 98th percentile on the PSAT, and received scholarships from my testing ability. The missing opportunity is in the classroom.
thenorm05 5 months ago
@KarateKidX Some people don't work well under time limits. It makes them uncontrollably nervous and rash, and the test results are not an accurate reflection of that person's actual intellectual capabilities. There are better alternatives for judging a student's college-readiness than standardized testing. College is all about reading, writing, research and critical thinking (even within the sciences), not filling in little bubbles as fast as possible...
nothlithawk777 5 months ago 2
@lolnonamesleft "There is no way around getting to know how much knowledge an applicant has, without a standardized test score"
I must say that is a very narrow view. Canada does not have any those types of tests. I took at math test to figure out what class I should go in but that's about it.
davidkip88 5 months ago
We have standardized tests too (don't know how SATs look like, but they should be simmilar) called the Matura Exam, and it's usually quite accurate, most of the time it's +- 1 grade (in comparison to the grades during the last year or 2 of high-school). Except if you go to a bad school, where you slack off for 4 years. Do you rly think it's fair that I bust my ass off in a good school and don't get accepted, cause I had worse grades than a guy who went to an easy school?
xGapex 5 months ago
Hey, TYT awesome staffers!
How about a segment on those damn (unnecessary?) GRE's!
["Vote up", please!]
Vote4Nava 5 months ago
Why aren't there exams at the end of high school in each subject? That way no one has to pay for a meaningless test and no one has to pay $1200 for an overrated prep course.
jadotjolais 5 months ago
@jadotjolais, there are exams at the end of High School in each subject, it's called final exams, it happens everytime a Semester or Trimester ends and students have to take the test which makes up usually is 20 - 50% of their final grade. But however these final exams only conver what a High School class learned during the semester / trimester, it isn't national. Which is why the ACT / SAT got started so it's national and more reliable for college admissions.
AstroWaldo 5 months ago
I didn't study at all for the SAT and did great. Like Ana an J.R. said, It all has to do with how good you are at test-taking.
zack0107 5 months ago 2
@lolnonamesleft
when i went to my university, i had non standardized exams made by the university. noone cared about my tests before that.
logoth80 5 months ago
Here's an idea: not everyone should go to college. ACT/SAT are useful even if they have their flaws. Take AP classes if you want to be rated highly even with a poorer test score.
DeJach 5 months ago
I'm glad I took the ACT.
I really don't think we EVER took a class on the ACT/SAT tests, so I have no idea what you're talking about there? Just signed up for a day, and took the test.
The test helped me with selecting my college classes. It made me rethink what I would do.... like I had a decent score for science, so I'm pretty sure I'll be skipping an into chemistry class and going to the one I actually need for my major which in turn saves me money.
MyPaperBleedsInk 5 months ago in playlist More videos from tytuniversity
These kind of videos confuse me a lot because the system is so different in America. Though I'm guessing the SATs and whatnot are pretty much the same as our student examination which is also standardized. But is it that when you apply to universities in the US you don't take an entrance exam, then? Because here that's the key part in getting into a university. Do they just check your SAT scores or what? Sorry if these questions seem stupid but I really don't know.
Tuuliska 5 months ago
@Tuuliska yeah...pretty much (for most) colleges/universities, instead of an entrance exam, the SATs/ACTs are used...but I think they're pointless...my high school though has an exam which measures what you've actually learned in high school and you can't graduate unless if you pass it...which i still think is pointless but instead of wasting paper and being useless like the SAT & ACT, it actually measures something important...
Pieman155 5 months ago
how about instead of an autocratic arbitrary testing system, we just learn what we want, how we want, and show that knowledge by what we're able to to. if i want to be a programmer and i made a program myself that i would have a use for, there's motivation without stress, practicality, and shows real world working knowledge(or a test). all educational administrators i have experience with show no interest in thought or willingness to change and belong in jail.
theshiznojudge 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@lolnonamesleft What about knowledge outside of verbal/maths? History, geography, sciences, literature, foreign language, technology/electives, etc. cannot be found on the tests but on high school transcript.
Umishiru 5 months ago
@lolnonamesleft
What about knowledge outside of verbal/maths? History, geography, sciences, literature, foreign language, technology/electives, etc. cannot be found on the tests but on high school transcript.
mistacramer 5 months ago in playlist More videos from tytuniversity
I took the SAT the last year they didn't allow you to use a calculator on the math section. I probably would have doubled my math score had I been able to punch numbers and try things out quickly and easily. I scored in the top 98% in math on the PSAT a year earlier which allowed calculators at the time. I was pretty pissed when I found out the following year they allowed calculators on the SAT.
Phloid82 5 months ago
Getting a high score on the current form of the SAT is very feasible WITHOUT prep classes... I took the SAT twice; the first time I scored 1860, the second time I scored a 2100 (after working on the math I had trouble with the first time.) I took no preparatory classes- I tested, worked on my weaknesses, and tested again.
TheFauxpas42 5 months ago
I also don't get how so many people are "bad at tests". You just fill in the right circle, and then go to the next question. It's not that hard
KarateKidX 5 months ago
@KarateKidX It's easy for you to say it, but for everyone, it's not so simple.
GSanchez200 5 months ago
@GSanchez200
Well, sure, It 's not so simple for people who don't know the right answer
KarateKidX 5 months ago
I also don't get how so many people are "bad at tests". You just fill in the right circle, and then go to the next question. It's not that hard
KarateKidX 5 months ago
ACT and SAT were never actually "required" anywhere.
University admissions are highly discretionary, and If you didn't take those tests, the person deciding your admission can still find potential reasons to admit you.
KarateKidX 5 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
If you can't manage a decent score on the SAT or ACT, how are you going to manage to pass a midterm or a final? You can retake those tests as many times as you like, too. We have too many inflated GPAs in our high schools for that to be a credible representation of a student's ability. We need a way to test hard skills for university students.
TheFauxpas42 5 months ago 2
If you can't manage a decent score on the SAT or ACT, how are you going to manage to pass a midterm or a final? You can retake those tests as many times as you like, too. We have too many inflated GPAs in our high schools for that to be a credible representation of a student's ability. We need a way to test hard skills for university students.
TheFauxpas42 5 months ago
buulllllllllllllshhiiiiiiiiiiiiit...... if I had to sit through that damn ACT for two DAMN hours then fuck it! I use to think that taking it was a load .... til I heard about ACT scholarships :D
datKidwilliaM 5 months ago
i came from a poor area and a poor school, didn't prep for the ACT or SAT at all. managed to get a 27 on the ACT and i think ~1700 on the SAT. i'm far from being a genius, just slightly above average, so if i can get that high with no preparation and low-quality secondary education, it shouldn't be unreasonable to expect an average person to do well on them too. i don't get why test taking is such a unique skill, unless there's tons of high schools that never give any tests.
Cuddlebunzzzz 5 months ago
Seems like lowering the bar to me. Make the classes free and keep the tests. The test is a filter to make sure they can handle the stress. I see the drop out rates going up because of the lack of ability to handle the stress of college.
Richardisdorky 5 months ago
I used to think SATs were stupid, however they are set so that students SUCCEED. As bright as you are, how in the heck is a college going to know all 20k applicants? Its the colleges way of bringing people of a certain calibur to their school so that the people who are not qualified do not get in and get trampled. College is competetive. If you arent ready for a certain school, you wont get in. Take JC and transfer wherever you want after you proove yourself.
chinesechef 5 months ago
Oh come on the results aren't DISCONNECTED from intelligence, they're just dependent on more than that. Let's not go crazy.
aaronpolitical 5 months ago
@lolnonamesleft i doubt that people who are not studious will apply to universities(unless their parents were paying for them to get accepted) and you have to do good in school to get accepted to a good school anyway, you arent going to a university with a 1.5 gpa, besides those test there are other nessesary requirements to get into a school that in most cases cover the basic knowlege that you speak of without costing poor families a 1000 dollars. ps ignorance is the reason you go to college
joy19877 5 months ago
I remember that when I took the SAT several of my friends in high school didn't take it simply because they couldn't afford it. My school didn't have any funding to wave the cost of the test, so many of them had to go to a community college for two years before they could transfer somewhere else.
guatepower 5 months ago
"I'm a bad test taker," just means you're dumb as shit. You don't even need to take these prep classes to do well if you possessed some modicum of intelligence and actually read textbooks and did homework in school. Stupid ass kids. Colleges need to have more stringent requirements.
MaicoMoon 5 months ago
Optional? They let too many dumb motherfuckers into college. Should be a requirement of at least a 3.0 GPA.
MaicoMoon 5 months ago
@MaicoMoon
GPA is far worse than sats for weeding out dumb people...
ragnarok297 5 months ago
@MaicoMoon i know people who got 4.0s in high school and single digit scores on the ACT. GPA is a horrible way of determining intelligence, many high schools have the bar so low that all you have to do is show up to all your classes to get straight A's
Cuddlebunzzzz 5 months ago 2
woah bias much ana?? ur just mad cause your shitty sat scores prevented u from goin to a good college.
when i took the sat i took a free class and guess what, it didnt help much at all. what helped was practicing the problems that were going to be on the test.
please tell me this, if the $1200 to take a prep class is too much, how do they afford to pay for college? even going to a public college thats about 2-3 percent of what you are going to be paying in the end.
23albanian 5 months ago
@23albanian student loans first, second you made the point against your self you studied the questions that were going to be on the test that is not a real assesment you had only vital information given to you over and over. taking a test should involve disernment that allows you to break down information given as a whole, not which answer out of my basket is the right one cause i bet you cant take what you paid 1200 dollars for anywhere else unlike a true education
joy19877 5 months ago
@23albanian scholarships and loans. and it's not all at once. my parents couldn't afford for me to go to those prep classes. i just got some practice books from used bookstores and friends.
jurgmike 5 months ago
I'm glad I didn't have to do any special tests to get into university in Canada. What an extra bunch of stress :(
understudy52 5 months ago
I'm a senior in high school right now, and the SAT class I take (Solutions Bay Area) is not those waste of time classes like AMES where they just tell you skills. Preparing for the SAT and ACT is just practice, practice, practice.There is no short-cut.
AlmostaFlipinSkater 5 months ago
when i was in high school i took and SAT class for 70 bucks, the cost was for the book and luckily we had a couple teachers that taught it for pretty cheap. Nice guys trying to help us do well.
MrJetWave 5 months ago
I took my SAT test. What a stupid test. It means nothing. I ended up going to university in Canada due to the low cost of schooling. These tests mean nothing in Canada or the rest of the world.
Chaoitcme 5 months ago
I got a 1480 on my SAT, first time, none of these stupid classes. Know why? Because I'm intelligent. Thus I deserve to be looked at favorably by colleges because I'm intelligent. Seems fair to me.
EWLeon 5 months ago
@EWLeon Test do not dictate intelligence. Many people are intelligent but they do not take tests well, even though they may know the answers.
Chaoitcme 5 months ago
@Chaoitcme Your use of the word "dictate" doesn't make sense, but I know what you mean. I'm not saying I'm intelligent because I did well on a standardized test. I did well because I'm intelligent. I know some people aren't good test-takers, but it's a skill they'll simply have to acquire, just like any other skill they'll need to be successful.
EWLeon 5 months ago
@EWLeon Yeah dictate was a poor word choice. These test really mean nothing in the real world. Once you are out of high school and in college or university the SAT test means nothing. I ended up going to school in Canada and they don't have the SAT test. I did spend time preparing for the SAT and I did alright. Learning how to take standardized test really is not a skill needed to be successful due to the fact that once you are out of high school you will probably never take one again.
Chaoitcme 5 months ago
@Chaoitcme tests do not indicate intelligence but they do indicate that a person can concentrate, remain calm, and can use common sense.Last time I checked, colleges weren't picking students only because they were intelligent. How active and outgoing a person is, is apparently important so a student who is collected and can keep a cool head in a tense situation is also a great asset to a school.
apoorva0426 5 months ago
@apoorva0426 Some people just do not take test well. It has nothing to do with intelligence. Many schools do base enrollment on SAT scores which really does not showcase what a student can do.
Chaoitcme 5 months ago
@Chaoitcme dude, i just said that tests don't indicate intelligence. Furthermore, the SAT scores indicate that a student can be calm, relaxed, and navigate an exam which really measures common sense. The qualities that I just listed are, in my opinion, very important.
apoorva0426 5 months ago
What does that mean "Their diversity improved from 18 to 23%"???
rvolk86 5 months ago
Standardized tests are stupid.
TheCagedTiger 5 months ago
Some schools make the SAT/ACT mandatory even for transfer students, which is complete BS. If a transfer student has completed 60+ credits and has a GPA of 3.5-4.0, you would think that would be enough to qualify a student for potential admission. Not all people who go to a junior college have had the opportunity to take the SAT/ACT. So I think it should be optional for at least transfer situations.
koikitten 5 months ago
standardized tests are BS. Here in British Columbia, the provincial wide standardized tests are optional for most of the universities.
MNICY 5 months ago
@MNICY I been accepted in a college in BC with only my transcript from high school in Québec, and the college in question only ask me a little English test to say that I am able to read and write in English. And my grades are all right, not great... I'm a B students, but if I work harder I would get better grade (just think that education is not just courses, and I'm not always motivated)... And this is given that I can't spell for shit, that English is only a second language.
therrydicule 5 months ago
@therrydicule congratulations :)
MNICY 5 months ago
@MNICY No need to congratulate me, the system is really good without SAT and ACT -> it's just goes to your point that standardized test is BS, at least in their current form. I would have had a really bad score on the SAT... When, I'm a reasonably good student.
therrydicule 5 months ago
I Teach ACT/SAT for the Princeton review. Both tests are beatable fairly easily. Classes are just super expensive but definitely worth it if you can afford it. I think standardized tests have their place to determine how well prepared students are from each high school as a tool to judge high schools, but not as an individual indicator.
bman006bjj15843 5 months ago 19
@bman006bjj15843 Send us a video submission on this topic using the link/instructions at the top of the TYT U channel homepage.
tytuniversity 5 months ago 17
Anna is so full of shit. I didn't take any classes and I scored a 2270 on my SAT.
Adam12088 5 months ago
@Adam12088 A lot of people aren't that successful. Everyone is different.
rawrisluv 5 months ago
@Adam12088 Oh, good for you. So, since you did well, EVERYONE must be doing that well! Right? That's how reality works, isn't it?
TehDeminz 5 months ago
@Adam12088 A lot of someones score can be determined on how far out of high school someone is. I know straight out of high school I would of scored pretty high because a lot of the test material would of still been fresh in my young trained mind. Now, ten years later? half the stuff I learned that I havent used I probably forgot, so yeah I would need the classes.
Vr4z1el 5 months ago
this is one topic where i dont agree the TyT. i took the pretest in highschool. it was free. i took the SAT twice and got a 1670 on it. but im not bragging. my point is, that if a person cant stay calm during the SAT and get a decent score on it how do you think they are going to be able to cope with the stress of college work. the SAT is nothing compared to college. just wait. when more and more colleges stop requiring the SAT there will be an increase in college drop outs.
ScubzMcTalBowling 5 months ago
@ScubzMcTalBowling Totally agree. Although I do have a bias here...my score is much better than my grades xD
mirrornette 5 months ago
@ScubzMcTalBowling Atleast your school offered a pre-test. My brother scored a lowly 17 on the ACT test and went on to earn two masters. He even graduated magna cum laude.
MrSool15 5 months ago
is the SAT like an IQ test?
TamaNewb 5 months ago
@TamaNewb, nope. SAT is a aptitude test, they test you how well you know in certain school subjects such as Math, English, Science, and Writing, plus there's sub-versions of the test only focus on a subject like Physics or German. They cover the operations which you would normally learn in school than they present you questions of those operations to see how well you know that subject. It's not an IQ test, anyone, even someone with an IQ under 70 can work hard and still achieve a good score.
AstroWaldo 5 months ago
I went to an Urban school and we were no way NEAR As concerned about the SATs as we should have been . I personally never understood the hype around the media & movies .
momzbabz7 5 months ago
Not only do I not think you should have to take the SAT to get into college, I don't think that it should even be considered as that test was complete and utter bullshit, that measured nothing except for how well you can take the SAT. I can't speak for the ACT, since I've never taken it.
peleproductions 5 months ago
@peleproductions It's basically the same, only more topics. SAT is math and English. ACT is math, reading comprehension, English, and science. It's all mutliple choice, with an optional essay portion. The scoring is different too, the highest you can get on the ACT is 36, whereas SAT is 2000, I think . . .
LadySeraph 5 months ago
U can study for SAT on your own and get good scores.
fionamcampbell 5 months ago in playlist More videos from tytuniversity
God damn. you need a TER ranking system.
blackattack100 5 months ago
nope. sorry, total bull shit. you should have to take one or the other.
grnbbllntrck 5 months ago
On the SAT, I scored 720 on math, 580 on English (tested 1991). This is the exact reverse of what I should have expected - I was getting solid A's in English class for two years running, and solid C's in Analytical Geometry/Calculus during the same time frame.
Either the test sucked, or my teachers sucked, or both. Probably all of the above . . .
jason666king 5 months ago
If you can't take a fucking test, don't go to college.
MastermindX 5 months ago
The SAT was initially put in place to give less affluent people a fair shot. Since everyone writes the same test, it was intended to be a level playing field. Now, it's not perfect. It's not a perfect predictor of aptitude, but it has some predictive value. Secondly, the wealthy continue to be at advantage due to access to test-taking courses. Lastly, do we want one 3 hour test to be so important? Anxiety and random aberrations from typical performance are huge risks in such situations.
uoftron 5 months ago
And now as all the countries begin to understand what a boolshit tests like that are we in Russian of couse get into it with our Unified State Exam :)
eugrus 5 months ago
Life isn't fair. Boo hoo
Thongger 5 months ago
I would far rather answer a few essay questions than take the SATs over again.
Trichomes503 5 months ago
Sounds like it is a similar problem with the UKCAT and maybe LNAT in the UK. :S
Highheidyin 5 months ago
DePaul like Wake Forest, Arizona, and Providence College has gone test-optional, which is the new trend. Even NYU only requires two sections of the test. However, most people believe these schools will only accept a very small amount of test-optional students if any. Search YouTube for Test Optional Colleges and click on the second option and listen to the former college admission counselor call it dishonest, because test-optional students will be the last consideration.
MrSool15 5 months ago
Thank YHWH. I got a laughable 14 on my ACT my junior year, 18 the second time. Maybe, possibly, a 22 the third time if I had decided to take it again? Said fuck it. Went to college after I graduated from high school, and graduated cum laude with a B.A. Now I am in graduate school. System reboot.
andrewsanders1984 5 months ago
Anyone who does poorly on the SAT or ACT is not very intelligent. I'm sorry if that hurts any of your feelings, but it is the truth. Both exams test BASIC algebra, reading comprehension and grammar/writing. The test results are much more reliable than GPA's. The difference in difficulty from one school to the next is so vast that high school grades are almost entirely meaningless. Standardized tests are the most fair way to compare students, as all students are graded on the same material.
tigerz2350 5 months ago 3
@tigerz2350
I have to agree, studies show that the standardized test have better correlation to college performance than GPA as a metric.
jahs389 5 months ago
@tigerz2350 You're not very intelligent if you think basic algebra and grammar measure your intelligence.
CelphProclaimed 5 months ago
@tigerz2350 People with Autism and Asperger syndrome usually do not test well on those tests even though they are highly intelligent.
MrSool15 5 months ago
@tigerz2350 My brother is an admission counselor at top tier university and he believes those tests are a waste of time and money That a student with a 3.8 gpa, 6 AP courses, and a 22 ACT score is just as smart as a student with a 3.4 gpa, 0 AP courses, and a 28 ACT score. Keep in mind that he scored a 17 on the test. Stil,l he graduated magna cum laude from a good university after transferring from a community college. He later went on to earn two master degrees
MrSool15 5 months ago
I got high enough on my high-school state standardized test that I was exempt from any college entrance exam, so I have no experience with them.
RichoRosai 5 months ago
Hell yeah, man stupid people just shouldn't even go to college. They just drink and fail all their classes.
jwdesign336 5 months ago
WOW in England you NEED to do A- levels to get into university or you will not be considered. Everyone needs to do exams its part of education, i got straight As at A-level, it just takes a lot of hard work, the first thing my teachers told me was for every hour you spend in school you need to do an hour of study at home.
ciaranreaper 5 months ago
I never taken the SAT or ACT and still get in to college.
reubenbridges 5 months ago
I got 830 on my SAT; now I'm a physicist and a fiction writer.
dXoverdteqprogress 5 months ago
It's not a test of intelligence, it's a test of test taking abilities like the GRE (WHICH WAS A BITCH). I do support making these tests optional. However, how good are the schools making the aforementioned tests optional? Is Depaul a good school?
rohgenextfan 5 months ago
I'm a 4.2 Senior in High School and I scored a 1450 on the SAT!!!....That test is mindfuck....
guppyworld540 5 months ago
I did much better on my ACT compared to SAT. Also, most schools are starting to have their own admissions test. Those test are so much better because you aren't under any time restraints. My biggest problem with the SAT was not doing the problems..... It was completing the problems in time.
treyatl2006 5 months ago
Tip - In the essay section, reference a famous philosopher. Learn one thing one philosopher said, and you can tie it into everything. Especially Thoreau.
Xionc 5 months ago
never took a act prep course. did pretty well. buck up and take the test
dannyledwith21 5 months ago
back in the day i took the ACT 7 times and made the same score 6 of the damn times, it was the final time it moved
evileyez504 5 months ago
YESSSS. ok, i have a 3.9 so far, but come on.
SangtotheDy 5 months ago
I feel as if the ACT is not a good way to measure intelligence. The College Board assigns these tests, which cost almost $50 if you include the writing portion, and have you take the test. Besides basic skills that people at that level should have (such as basic math, reading, etc.), one doesn't need a whole lot to do good on it. They only need this: a strategy to perform good on said test. Essentially, many are "taught to the test," which doesn't foster intelligence, but trains lab monkeys.
DixonRants 5 months ago
Jayar talks as if he doesn't know how to talk.
Tripp393 5 months ago
I didn't study for the ACT and I did pretty good on it. After the fact I randomly looked through some books supposedly showing you how to take that exam, and it looked like complete bs to me. personally I think colleges should go based on your scores in highschool, and maybe some essays that you submit during the application process.
blue4arekkusu 5 months ago
The US testing system across the board is retarded because you don't learn the subjects you learn the tests.
sK0pe666 5 months ago
Those tests are culturally-biased. I had an 18 on the ACT and I totally bombed my GRE. They are all BS. I have no tests in my MSW program, all papers and presentations. The professor that told me that GRE would break me can kiss my ass.
SpenceMisfitOliver 5 months ago
I never needed the test scores to get into University. I was ranked #3 in my class so I got in through class ranking. Took some assessment test at the university to test out of my basic classes, and went straight into my major. Still took 5 yrs because of the intensive program I was in, had me in 12 different countries through my college career.
lordblazer 5 months ago 2
I never took the SAT or ACT and was accepted into my small private liberal arts college back in '08. Traditional tests are not incorporated into the curriculum at Prescott College, at all. I love it! It made for a more comfortable learning environment all these years.
EmilyRoseLR1 5 months ago
Yeah it SHOULD be optional cause its EXTREMELY LONG and TIRING!
Spsuperstar 5 months ago
in 30-40 yers american scools would only have asians and rich white rich people if the trend contionous
larsoveful 5 months ago
@larsoveful YEYEYEYEYEYEYEYE!!!!!!!!!!1111!!!!
maybabii24 5 months ago
what kind of tests do you have in amrica when you cen take courses to pass yhe test,wgats the point then,anubody who cares to take the test will pass
larsoveful 5 months ago
Thank god. I'm actually a senior now and I cant WAIT to just get done with that test. And if a college is REALLY gonna judge me over my SAT score they are not gonna be worth my time.
coolsteven2 5 months ago
ALL EXAMS = How Well You Can MEMORIZE, which is stupid
rohannesburg 5 months ago
@rohannesburg you can't even memorize on the standardized test which is completely unfair to students and to teachers who have to teach around an effing test.
coolsteven2 5 months ago
@rohannesburg these test, more so SAT, have little to do with the ability to memorize.
breaker746 5 months ago
Yeah, having a standardized test where you can compare what people know would be a bad thing. And that whole BUT IT DOESNT TEST WHAT THEY KNOW argument is really stupid. the ACT gives you enough time to do the test if you remember how to do whats on it. If you need to sit there and think for 10 minutes per problem, youre not going to finish. I got a 31, it really wasnt that hard.
vonbassenheim 5 months ago
One more step towards making our education system one step worse. And for the record, those smart enough to make the grade in school have never needed the test scores.
kenshinbattousai374 5 months ago
@kenshinbattousai374 TEST SO EZ DOUGH JEJEJEJEJEJEJEJEJ :))))))))))))))))))))))0
maybabii24 5 months ago
I can say that having enough money does help significantly because richer families have the means to be able to focus on education (helped me to get 2380) rather than getting food on the table or getting extra jobs. However doing away with a standardized test is inadvisable because the grading system at schools is not standardized, so there would be no legitimate way to compare students. Often, people suggest that the SAT is bs to justify their less-than-desired performance.
breaker746 5 months ago
eh, i like the idea of a standardized test. maybe not the sat/act, but definitely something that would objectively answer how well you do versus other students applying to college. you could come from a weakass school that hands out A's like candy, have a 4.5 GPA, and not know anything. you could also work your ass off in a crazy competitive school, be crazy smart, and get a 3.5 GPA. if you don't standardize stuff, all they have to look at is a number and not true academic ability.
blackknight007 5 months ago
I hate the SAT and ACT. They're both ridiculous.
AndrewMatt16 5 months ago
@AndrewMatt16 HET U TOO JAJAAJAJAJAJJAAJAJA !!!1111!!!1
maybabii24 5 months ago
I got a fantastic SAT score, so no :P
harmanmalhidotcom 5 months ago
@harmanmalhidotcom look at me I don't understand anything wooo
Xaklyth 5 months ago
Actually I went to community college first and transferred over without SAT scores as a factor
Sagefrakrobatik 5 months ago
I went to a high school with 300 kids in a town with 6k people, it was trash with stupid teachers. The ACT no writing is like $35. I never took a class to prepare for it. I barely paid attention in high school and made a 25 on it half asleep. I have an idea. Instead of buying a $300 phone, buy the act and then when you get an extra $30, buy your phone. People are stupid.
TheMasteratLink 5 months ago
Everything they said is sooo true. Its not about what you know but just how to navigate the test
TheWheelerOne1 5 months ago
Public education in this country leaves a lot to be desired and socioeconomic status is directly related to academic performance in general. So wouldn't you say those are the root causes of our educational woes? I'd be interested to see what percentage of students who scored high on the SAT did poorly in college and vice-versa. My guess (I have no numbers to back this up at present), plenty of students with low SAT scores do well in college, but not many students with high SAT scores do poorly.
AwkworldStudios 5 months ago
There's no need to take classes for the SATs. Just borrow one of the SAT books from the library and study from that. I personally never looked at one of the books and I did pretty decent on it. The most I did was study from those note cards that had definition of words. And I didn't even go through most of those cards because I was so lazy. lol.
DumplingzOwO 5 months ago
Fuck the SAT
LiberalJerseyman 5 months ago
I'm from europe and I don't really understand this SAT system. If you score 2200 out of 2400 possible points, will you then obtain a permission to go to a university like Harvard or Yale, even if your high school marks are miserable?
In other words, is all your pre-college education focused on this one test?
SoulProvider88 5 months ago
@SoulProvider88 The significance of the SAT is generally overplayed. Most of the admissions to prestigious universities is based on the grades, and if the grades are bad, SAT can only slightly compensate. The other two considerably important factors to admissions are the extracurricular activities as well as essays/letter of recommendation. SAT can help you and it can hurt you but it is definitely not the main factor in admissions. Also, a 2200 is on the low end for these schools.
breaker746 5 months ago
@SoulProvider88 i think it probably depends on the colleges. i'm sure for the ivy league schools, they look at both sat scores and your grades from high school, though i can't say for sure. in my personal experience, some colleges might do it based on lottery. my friend and i applied for this one school. i had the higher grades and sat score, but she got in why i got rejected. so. who knows. lol.
DumplingzOwO 5 months ago
SAT was easy, quit your bitching, I came from a poor house, if you're stupid you'll fail, that's it. LEARN FUCKERS, LEARN
lolatyoufools 5 months ago
@lolatyoufools I did hOooooooooooorible on that test I think I got like a 400 or something but now I have a 3.6 GPA and I am working on a bachelor's with four majors
Sagefrakrobatik 5 months ago
you know what, im actually one of the students that benefit from the ACT since i had no trouble taking it and got a good score on it and didnt take any special classes for the act. but i still think its bullshit and should be gotten rid of. i know plenty of people who are much smarter than me that did much worse on the ACT. the fact that we have so many classes that revolve around scoring well on1 test rather than actually teaching the information and getting kids to understand it is disgusting.
Benlucky13 5 months ago
Wait a second maybe S.A.T prep should be adequately taught well in your highschools. Problem solved.
bunkmasterflex 5 months ago
seriously, The SAT is just a pain and you have to pay so much money for it, i wish i didnt have to take it.
VlogXperience 5 months ago
im still sayin, take a look at german univeristies...
JanKPiano 5 months ago
I don't find having a mandatory ACT test is okay, I don't know much about the SAT, but in my highschool, we take plenty practice ACT's and most of my classes have ACT questions as the admit slip, from my experience the ACT is actually testing you on the subject and not the way you can take the test, besides it having a time limit.
PkmnTrainerJason001 5 months ago
@PkmnTrainerJason001 and in Kentucky children with reduced/free lunch AKA me, get to take the test for free at any time, while in our junior year, the school provides a maditory ACT test that is free, besides the money it costs to come in to take it on saturday morning.
PkmnTrainerJason001 5 months ago
I didn't take any classes for SAT. I did buy a $20 prep book with practice tests. I studied vocabulary lists. And that's it. And I aced that test.
A standardized test is just one measure used by admissions officers for determining the scholastic aptitude of a person - and it's not everything.
170324341a 5 months ago
The SAT needs no studying, BTW. All you need is a couple techniques, easy ones to learn, and a calm attitude.
gamegeek2 5 months ago
High incomes may mean smart parents, who passed on intelligence to you. A lot of rich people are actually smart and earned their wealth, in fact it's likely that most are. And for a given private school, you can expect a given cadre of students to go there, unless one school gives a large scholarship and another doesn't. And it's not about just navigating a test, it has to do with knowledge, and high SAT scores also have a correlation with high IQ.
gamegeek2 5 months ago
However, that doesn't mean that these tests are without problems. There are many ways that these tests can be more fair, we just have to do it.
EvanCRCD 5 months ago
The reason why standardized tests are important is because of the differences of grading at different schools. Some schools are ultra hard, and a C is a great grade, but at other schools, an A might be given out just for attendance. (cont)
EvanCRCD 5 months ago
I got a 2330 on the SAT :( I like this thing! (Well I don't like taking it...)
gamegeek2 5 months ago
ACT is a joke. Multiple choice? I took it and got 'average' because I am terrible at math, but I did great at everything else. I took it again and got the same score. I didn't purchase the books or anything.
Personally, I think all standardized testing is retarded, accept people based on their grades and what they write to you, and their portfolio if it's for arts.
NeccoWecco 5 months ago
The SAT isn't great, but there needs to be a standardized test to measure performance. The GRE is a much better test.
meltingfaces10 5 months ago
Hell, I got a 32 on ACT, which is the 98th percentile. You know what my rank in my high school is? Around 50%.
davidthefat 5 months ago
I will say one thing, the SAT is easier for foreign students than the ACT.
Either test is a scam though just to sell the classes and the books. You can find everything you need from grades and the application anyways.
But one thing though is it does allow lazy smart people to get in a little easier so whatever.
blacklite911 5 months ago
got an 18 for my ACT but i have high GPA in college so those test in no way are necessary
BigRezee05 5 months ago
I am not sure about the "SAT bias" argument. I think biases exist in almost all arenas. If it is a test, it can be studied for. How do I know? Well, the hundreds of kids that have come here over the years from countries like Zimbabwe, Kenya, etc who have never been to the U.S nor do they even speak English at home. They rely on studying the material for 12+ hours a day until they have, at the very least, some understanding. In other words, if you are willing to put in the time, you'll be fine.
wezhira2007 5 months ago
@wezhira2007 Many anti-SAT people argues that it's a classist testWhy? Not everyone could afford to pay for SAT classes, and when they do take the test, they did not get smarter, they just learn how to take a test.
I talked to one of the employees at the admittance office in Syracuse university (one of those who review application) and she agreed.
flipmaya 5 months ago
Didn't study for the ACT at all, got a 30. Taking it again though.
iamtheplauge 5 months ago
I live in Canada, and the SAT isnt necessary to get into schools, unless you go to an american school, but the high school i went to offered free SAT classes and you could write practice SATs, etc. I think that system is better
MrStapelz 5 months ago 10
Personally I liked the ACT way more then the SAT. Unlike the SAT I didn't take any classes for it and I did much better probably it seemed to test more heavily on stuff we learned in school as opposed to testing how your strategy for taking a test it also didn't take off points for getting the wrong answer.
SumFreshDkaf 5 months ago
NO! There is no such thing as a person who "just doesn't test well". That's bullshit. Tests measure knowledge and ability. College is a meritocracy. You have to be smart enough to earn merit in the first place.
bamboo4tameshigiri 5 months ago
@bamboo4tameshigiri I think that's bullshit. I met people who do well in tests and they don't know ANYTHING in their major. In theory, everyone who takes the tests who study, knows the subject. However, some people cannot put that on paper. If they give an oral exam, the stats will change.
nytehawx 5 months ago
@nytehawx I'm OK with an oral exam. What I am not OK with is destroying the meritocracy that is college. I busted ass (between weekends) to keep my 4.0 in premed. Tests are how you evaluate one's knowledge. Granted, some questions are designed to trick you- you're supposed to be smart enough to know that! If you aren't, too bad! That's what a meritocracy is all about. They can't just let anyone in for any reason, the average US citizen is too stupid as it is, compared to the civilized world.
bamboo4tameshigiri 5 months ago
@bamboo4tameshigiri Then there should be a larger investment in education for the United States.
nytehawx 5 months ago
@nytehawx I can't argue with that. They have only been making cut after cut to education (and ALL social programs) so rich people can get more tax breaks. Rich people can afford private schools and tutors. The rest of us have to EARN our way in the academic world and that's how it should be. Its not that way in a capitalist country (AKA the real world), but it is that way in college and destroying that would be sacrilege.
bamboo4tameshigiri 5 months ago