I like the idea of dropping the tests in theory, but in practice, some students will lose many potential benefits.
As a college educator and homeschool parent, I approach standardized testing from several different perspectives. Also, please note these are my observations and are not backed by any empirical data. It’s simply my process as a professor and academic adviser.
I will say that standardized testing does have its place by helping admission teams, advisers assigning courses, and schools allocating scholarships. As we know, all K-12 education is not equal and varies dramatically by the school, state, or homeschool curriculum. The one item that somewhat equalizes the entire process is standardized testing.
A student’s high school GPA, dual credit courses, and Advanced Placement courses are valuable indicators of future collegiate success. However, standardized testing is used in multiple ways to benefit a student. Of course, with a higher score, there are more benefits. However, lower scores are not bad if they are combined with a good GPA and extracurricular activities. Also, remember you don’t have to send the scores to all schools. If a school doesn’t require SAT or ACT scores and a score potentially reduces the ability to be accepted, don’t send the score.
Over the past two decades in education, I’ve found eight valuable benefits as a homeschool parent and college professor.
The first is practice testing. It’s like anything else; the more you practice, the better you will become. This is especially important for those students that over-analyze questions. There’s a process to learning how to answer standardized test questions. After taking multiple practice exams, most students realize keywords provide the answer. The overly analytical student will point out the flaws of the question, burning through precious time. The more they practice, the easier it becomes to simply answer the question and move on. Practice, Practice, Practice.
The second benefit is understanding standardized testing to become more comfortable with the stress of exams. Standardized testing is part of our lives. Everything from math placement tests, driver license exams to professional licenses all require standardized tests. Becoming comfortable taking a test written for various demographics will help students critically think through a confusing question and a stressful testing situation. PSAT, SAT, ACT, AP, CLEP, PRAXIS, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, and MCAT are all potential tests your student will encounter.
The first and second benefits lead to the third: confidence. Reducing internal butterflies before an event is excellent, but it’s sorely needed before a college entrance exam. The pressure today’s students place on themselves is astounding. The dream of going to a big-name school, or following in their parent’s footsteps, weighs heavily on their minds. As the old adage says, confidence breeds success.