The ACT is a test that about every single high school student dreads, and that includes me. The ACT is a standardized test used for college admissions. I believe that all schools should be test-optional, which means that when applying to the college it is not required for you to list your ACT score in your application. The SAT score is also an option of testing to submit to colleges for admission but is less popular.
I don’t think that the ACT should be required in the college application because it can be an unfair representation of your high school career. For example, if your family has a lot of money they can spend a large amount of money on different tutors, classes, and different studying resources. Some kids don’t have this opportunity, which puts them at a huge disadvantage when it comes to this standardized test.
When I started studying for the test, I quickly learned that the test is not a representation of intelligence. The test is meant to trick you with its different questions and wording. The test is also timed, and there are a lot of people who are very intelligent but cannot work fast enough for this test. This is a perfect example of why colleges shouldn’t base admission on just the ACT.
In my experience, my mom thought it was a good idea to hire a tutor. After just a couple of meetings with my tutor, I had increased by at least one or two points in every section of the ACT. This is where I find a huge flaw in the system of the ACT. This tutor was not making me smarter, he was teaching me how to get through the strategies of this cruel test. The college application process should not require a test where I can pay someone to make me get a good score and that can affect whether or not a college thinks I’m smarter than the less fortunate kid sitting right next to me.
The ACT is also only a measure of your ability to get questions answered correctly in four sections. These sections are math, English, science, and reading. A person isn’t considered dumb if they don’t excel in these four sections. This test shows no representation of who you are as a person. I think in most cases, all the ACT shows is how well you can prepare for the test.
Overall, I think that colleges should all change their policies so that submitting your ACT score is always optional in the application process. There are some people out there who are very smart and great test takers and the ACT is a great way to show colleges how great they are, which is why I think submitting your ACT should be optional, not removed.