By: Camila Crespo, Senior Senior year brings many fun and interesting experiences, but by far the most important is the experience of applying to colleges and universities for the first time. The process is not simple; it takes time and patience to finish all the requirements. I had to complete several online applications, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), Bright Futures Scholarship form, and write multiple essays. However, an important piece of the applications is taking the SAT and the ACT. I only took the SAT, but many of my friends opted to take both the ACT and SAT. You might ask why am I focusing on BOTH the ACT and the SAT? Well, in October of this year, the ACT announced that they will make a change to the test. According to the Washington Post, the ACT declared that for the first time, students are going to be able to retake specific sections of their ACT exam. This change will take effect in September of next year. Because this a topic that relates to us students, it made me think of the Values Matter topic for the month of December: fairness. The ACT is a test that consists of different sections: reading, math, science, and an optional writing portion. It takes three hours to complete plus extra time for the writing section. Due to the length of the test, many students rush in some sections in order to be able to complete everything. Many even retake the test numerous times in order to achieve their desired scores. As a result, their scores change every time for each section. The announcement itself is great; it means those students who take the ACT in the future can benefit. I actually applaud the ACT officials for doing something that will be beneficial for the students taking their rigorous, fast-paced test. Still, I can’t help but think of the many students who are going to take the SAT, which the College Board offers. The SAT has reading, writing, math, and optional essay but leaves out science. The SAT is the other standardized test colleges and universities look at in application. The student taking this exam will not have the same option and advantage of retaking certain sections like those who take the ACT. The ACT’s rival is the SAT so it makes me wonder what the College Board actions are going to be. They are going to have to do something or more students will choose to take the ACT over the SAT as it will be more beneficial to them. As of now the College Board has not mentioned anything about changing the way the SAT is. In my opinion, I think that all tests made for students should benefit the students. Changing the SAT can help students improve on the subjects they lack on and help them save money and time. I think it will be fair to allow both test to have a retake section option. I hope that in the future the College Board will follow in the ACT’s footsteps and change the SAT for the benefit of test-takers around the country. Work CitedAnderson, Nick. “Students Will Be Able to Retake Sections of ACT next Year - without Repeating
Entire Exam.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 8 Oct. 2019, https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/students-can-retake-sections-of-the-act-next- year--without-repeating-the-entire-exam/2019/10/07/7296c532-e91b-11e9-9c6d- 436a0df4f31d_story.html.
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Camila CrespoI love watching movies and editing videos. I like listening to a variety of music, but I mostly enjoy listening to K-pop. My favorite Disney movies are Big Hero 6, WALL-E, and Up. |