Readers Respond: Oregon split on ACT/SAT college application requirement

Your Oregon News asked readers whether the ACT or SAT should be required on college applications.

This comes after test requirements were suspended for many college and university applicants during the pandemic. Now, many schools have made test scores an optional part of their applications, leaving many students to wonder whether they really need to take the SAT or ACT .

Of readers who responded, about 51% self-reported that they have a master’s degree or higher; 37% said they have a bachelor’s degree; 6% said they have some college experience; 3% said they have an associates degree; 3% said they have no college experience, and 3% said they are planning to apply to go to college.

About 52% of readers said either the ACT or the SAT should be required on college applications; 25% said neither test should be required; 22% said both should be required; 6% said the SAT should required; and 3% said the ACT should be required.

Here’s what Your Oregon News readers have to say about whether the SAT or ACT should be required on college applications:

“Book-smart is not the most important or best way to examine who is intelligent. Many people have other barriers that can interfere with high score on those tests.”

“Students might take their high school years more seriously if they know they have to score well. It also might save some students from paying for college when they're not actually prepared for the level of classes, resulting in less student debt.”

“I do believe that the ACT/SAT are weighted towards higher middle class and upper class students. Their schools have higher math and english class options than poorer schools. If colleges took into account the average scores from a school, they would be a more accurate gauge of a students ability to do well in college.”

“Research studies have dispelled the notion that standardized testing is a future predictor of success. Knowing this coupled with the fact that COVID showed us that colleges were able to make admission decisions without these tests again shows there isn't a need for them. Not only have these tests proven to be unnecessary, but requiring them would actively make the admissions process increasingly burdensome for students of lower income, first generation students, and other marginalized groups.”

“While there is no perfect test and standardized tests can have bias favoring white native English speakers, I've read that many admissions offices take that into account. Some are choosing students with lower scores to help offset the SCOTUS rulings against affirmative action. I've also heard that students with lower scores are hesitant to apply to these schools, so there is some educating to be done with applicants to inform them that a disappointing score may still valuable for them.”

“There must be some standard to make attendance demonstrative of basic merit and preparedness. Universities are accepting students that are not prepared for college. Many of these students do not persist through completing their degree. While the universities know this, they will gladly take the student's money in any case.”

“Colleges must be able to utilize academic performance measures.”

“The ACT/SAT are part of a wider baseline assessment.”

“Should we abolish the LSAT and the MSAT too, and the final exams and Bar exams?”

“I have a doctoral degree and I can say after decades of school that any type of standardized testing is of no academic value, specially SAT or other entrance testing, which are based mostly on Math and Writing. Who has decided that math and writing are the subjects that we should excel in life? We have at least five different types of intelligence, but standard testing focuses in one. Standard tests have only been created to make the world easier for professor and administration, not to create smart and creative individuals. Applications should be based on a wholistic comprehensive compilation of the students’ lives. We should emphasize grades, letters of recommendations, and extracurricular activities.”

“Testing is one way to demonstrate content understanding when opportunities for extracurricular activity is limited for an applying student.”

“Standardized test scores are something that students can control. Students can prepare, study, take practice exams, and retake the tests many times to improve their scores. If colleges don't have test scores to evaluate, they will have to rely more heavily on other parts of a student's application, including AP/IB classes, sports, arts, interest clubs, STEM activities, and other extracurriculars. Students have much less control over their neighborhood/school/district and what "extras" are available to them. It's much easier for rich kids in private schools to pad their high school resumes with fancy activities and challenging classes than it is for a low-income kid in a cash-strapped school. Standardized testing evens the playing field. Also, research has shown that SAT scores are a better indicator of how a student will handle college-level classes.”

“There are many, many students who are hard working and can excel at any level of college. The ACT/SAT has been a money making enterprise for many years. It causes elitism and blocks some students from going to the college of their choice when the students achievements and life experiences are more important to consider. Also, another consideration should be considered and that is all students should attend a two-year community college after high school to decide what they want to do and/or learn a marketable skill/trade. The high costs for a four year college has been so prohibitive to young people and families.”

“I graduated my university summa cum laude. I loved college. I am not the best test taker, but I was really diligent about studying and doing all my homework, so I got great grades. My ACT scores were not super great, especially in a couple of subjects, but that no way indicated my success at college. It only indicated how nervous I was that day when I took the test. I don’t think it really is a good indicator of knowledge or aptitude, only test taking abilities.”

“The SAT/ACT are the greatest indicator of success in college.”

“It permits the taker to have one way of testing her/his self against peers, and to have another way of showing places of interest capabilities. The student should decide whether or not to include the results in applications.”

“These tests give a good picture of a student's background knowledge. I see how little history some of our more famous or infamous leaders have, and am appalled. To say that someone like that has a college level education is astonishing! An essay may give a glimpse of a potential student's writing ability, but I feel that a general knowledge test has been a tried and true picture of them.”

“Besides grades a standardized test provides additional information for admittance.”

“The tests are proof of ability to learn.”

“Tests avoid waste of university classroom space instruction time and student's money due to unqualified students. Make tests and study manuals free for equality. Then those that work hard and study for the test may be awarded. with the opportunity.”

“Standardized testing measures potential for college success.”

“Standardized testing is the greatest predictor of future success.”

“The ACT and SAT are not predictors of how successful a student will be in college.”

“Why should one test or sets of tests tell whether you should be admitted or even possibly admitted into a college. As a person with extreme testing anxiety I know that some smart kids blank out when extreme pressure is applied toward a specific test. Plus, college is just a business anyway and some use their college name as a social marker, but is that college name on that degree really that important?”

“Each school has its own biases. If you have a standardized test, it gives an another way to look at where the student is compared to other students from other schools.”

“The tests provide little comparison to how well a young person may do.”

“The tests are a good way for colleges to gauge readiness.”

“College isn’t meant for everyone. Some move on to trade school, some directly into the work force. Students who are studious in high school are anticipating rigorous challenges in college. Eliminating testing paves the way for the lowest common denominator, which doesn’t compel hard work or commitment to high school.”

“Standards exist for a reason, and these tests help colleges and universities identify students who worked hard in school and will continue to work hard in college and the real world.”

“Different colleges have different missions and priorities. For some, these goals are aided by requiring standardized tests, for others they are not.”

“A test taken on a single day does not reflect a student's ability, especially when there will be students with the ability to pay for hours of test prep, while others' first exposure to the test will be on the test day. The transcript is the single most important part of a student's application, and Admissions officers know high schools well enough to understand what the transcript means, such as whether there is grade inflation, for example.”

“The tests do a good job of predicting success in college. Other factors are more easily manipulated and more subjective. For example, there is no proof that the applicants write their own essays. Also, many students are minimally involved in a lot of extracurricular activities simply to try to have a big list for their college applications but aren’t very involved or interested. Many just do them because their parents force them to go.”

“These tests are proven to be the absolute most accurate indicators of success in college. Both the universities and the students need to have this data to make the most accurate placement of students to lower the freshmen fail rate.”

“After reading the New York Times article about it, I’ve changed my mind from being pro-test-optional to anti. At this point, it seems more equitable to require the test.”

“A one-time exam is not a true measure of the breadth and scope of a students intelligence nor is it a determining factor in how well the students will perform in college.”

“The tests are an objective measure of educational accomplishment.”

“Both tests are an inaccurate measure of knowledge and poor measure of potential for academic success.”

“Lowering standards helps no one since high expectations are the key to achievement. If you want excellence in outcomes, it must be merit-based.”

“Students who want to go to college need to demonstrate the academic ability and rigor to attend. I think kids should be rewarded for hard work. Removing standards tells kids they do not have to work hard.”

“Many students cannot afford the tests and would be excluded from education. I graduated high school 20 years ago and never took the ACT/SAT tests. If that had been required in order to continue my education, I would never have gotten my Bachelor's degree and be working horrible, low-paying jobs still.”