Are There Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Take the SAT?

As an increasing number of universities have become test optional in recent years, it has left many students with doubt in their minds about whether or not they should take the Scholastic Aptitude Test, more widely known as the SAT. On the other hand, the number of students taking the test have ultimately increased, nearing two million, for a multitude of reasons.

Some argue that it is useless to take the SAT due to the fact that several colleges no longer require standardized test scores to be submitted. Top colleges, including Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, no longer require test scores. This then begs the question, if it is not required by any means, why spend the money and take the time to take this test? Well, not all schools are test optional and many will require either an ACT or SAT score in order to be considered for enrollment. Some of these schools include MIT, FSU, and Purdue University, among others, so if that is somewhere you would like to attend, it would be in your best interest to start studying for either one of those tests.

Another reason why many people are unsure whether they should take the test or not, especially for families with low income, is that the SAT is not free. The current price to purchase a test is $60 paired with a $25 cancellation fee for students who end up changing their minds, but College Board plans on increasing this fee to $68 for all tests starting in August of 2024. The fees don’t affect everyone though, as fees can get waived based on the test taker’s household income. By signing into the College Board’s website and filling out a waiver request form, the cost for the test will be completely waived and the test becomes free. This can become a very useful tool for low-income students because oftentimes a school will award merit scholarships based on a high SAT score, making college into a more attainable aspiration.

A perfect score on this test is by no means easy to obtain, only about 0.07% achieve it each year. Out of 1600 points, the average score out of all test takers is a 1050. Therefore, for some, in order to achieve a noteworthy, above average score, special tutoring may be necessary. SAT practice guides, study packets, and private tutors are another fee added onto the base cost of the test and can sometimes cost a small fortune. Alternatively, there are study groups that can be found via the internet that are run by volunteers who are trying to help students achieve good scores without any additional costs.

Among the negatives, there are some positive sides of taking the SAT, one being that your first test is not your final score. If the student is unhappy with their performance, they can retake the test as many times as they want. The test is held about once every two months, making it easy to schedule a retake. Statistically, every time the test is retaken, students will produce a better score, so  taking the test several times can only help students. There is one issue with this strategy though. The cost of retaking this test builds up very quickly and after too many times, can potentially provide a negative reflection onto the student.

             Ultimately, the decision on whether to take the SAT or not should be up to the student, based on their situation. Some students may be required to if their dream school asks for it, but students should not hesitate to attempt the test even if it is not required. The potential for merit-based financial aid and scholarships is worth it when the $60 you paid for one SAT can save thousands on college tuition and fees.