Con – Lilly Kaisi
In 2020, many colleges stopped considering SAT and ACT scores as COVID made testing difficult. Some people argue that test-blind policies reduce stress and give students who are not strong test-takers a better chance at getting into their dream schools. It sounds fair at first glance; however, test-blind policies aren’t fair to students because they leave low-income students with a harder time standing out and make college decisions unclear.
When students lose the option to submit test scores, they’re focused on “proving themselves” elsewhere on their application. That often means signing up for more extracurricular activities, college counseling, internships, etc. However, these other activities are a lot more expensive and difficult for people with less money or a lack of transportation. Students who are higher-income automatically have an upper hand because they have more money to put towards building a “perfect” application. Test-blind does not remove privilege, but rather it just shifts it towards students who can afford more extracurriculars. While students who aren’t great test-takers now have a better chance, others who can’t build their application with an overload of extracurriculars lose their chance.
Ignoring scores also makes admissions feel more subjective. Without a standardized test, how are colleges going to compare students across different schools? A rigorous schedule at one school may look completely different at another. Some schools even have fewer opportunities for extracurriculars or involvement, depending on their funding or location. When admissions are harder to measure, applicants are left wondering what went wrong.
Even GPA, which would become more important by taking the focus away from test scores towards GPA, isn’t very reliable. A 4.0 at one school could mean something completely different at another school. Certain schools grade a lot easier or harder for similar classes. Some students have more options for APs or advanced classes. There may also be fewer course options. Relying on GPA means colleges are comparing students on an inaccurate scale.
Of course, it makes sense for many students to support colleges being test-blind. Some people struggle with tests, especially under time pressure. However, sometimes a test score is a way for students to stand out or prove themselves. A test score can be useful for comparing students without creating an unfair advantage. On the other hand, there continues to be a wealth disparity between higher-income students who can afford greater resources and tutoring compared to lower-income students who can only rely on their own studying habits. To reduce this issue, it’d be beneficial for colleges and schools to provide free test prep.
Taking all of this into consideration, it is clear that college admissions will never have a perfect system where everyone is happy. However, it is possible to find equal ground. Rather than completely banning test scores from their applications, colleges should reshape how they look at them. Schools could provide test prep for free, cover the cost of tests, and expand access. Then colleges could consider test scores without making them the only factor. They should not be completely erased because some students rely on them heavily, but they also shouldn’t be overly important because it drags some students down. Colleges need to steer away from being test-blind and instead build a fair system that fosters equality.
Pro- Charlotte Wooldridge
For years, standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT have been treated as one of the most important parts of the college admissions process. A single score often seemed to define a student’s intelligence and their future in college. Since more colleges have moved to test blind policies, it is becoming clear that this change is not about lowering standards, but about making admission more realistic and fair.
One major advantage of test blind admissions is increased fairness. Standardized tests do not only measure academic skills; they also reflect access to resources. Students who can afford private tutors, test prep courses and multiple testing tries usually score higher than those who cannot. Meanwhile, students in low-income households may be just as capable, but they lack the ability to achieve those scores. By going test blind, colleges place more weight on the long-term academic resume instead of a score that can be influenced by privilege.
Another benefit is how test blind policies reduce the stress that is placed on students. High schoolers already face pressure from grades, sports, part-time jobs and responsibilities at home. Adding another serious test into an already stressful time can be overwhelming. Additionally, a lot of students struggle with test anxiety, which can also prevent the scores from reflecting their true abilities.
Test blind policies also encourage colleges to focus on qualities that actually matter once a student arrives at college. An impressive transcript, challenging classes, creative essays and good recommendation letters reveal a student’s work ethic, curiosity and ability to grow through education. Students who can manage demanding classes while participating in activities, jobs, etc., show responsibility and motivation that will be useful when they begin college. These skills will help students succeed in college and later in life, which cannot be found through standardized tests.
Some people may argue that standardized tests provide a common way to compare students from all different schools; however, this idea assumes all students begin with the same opportunities. Schools vary in funding, available classes and support, and treating test scores as equal ignores these differences.
In the end, going test blind shows that colleges are starting to see students as more than just a number. This system highlights the hard work and growth throughout a student’s high school experiences instead of how well they can take a test. This way, every student has a fair shot at showing what they can really do.
