While some colleges have begun to become test optional, many still look for a students SAT or ACT score. While many despise the testing process, and all the stress that comes with studying and taking the actual exam, I believe that these are essential when it comes to applying to the college of your choice even if it’s optional since they can enhance your application compared to others.

Grade inflation is a real issue that exists in many schools, so it gets hard to differentiate between students. To put it in simpler terms, grade inflation is when teachers hand out good grades to students even when it doesn’t accurately reflect their academic ability. When two students are given all A’s but only one did the work and understands the material while the other doesn’t, and they both apply to college, who should get in? Obviously the first one, but in this case, it doesn’t matter as they both are viewed as academically equal unbeknownst to the universities.

Testing serves as a standard method for universities to decipher which students are the best academic fit for a school. Azusa Pacific University (APU) highlights this as they express the need for SAT/ACT testing as a way to balance students out. While testing is unbearable, it’s a way to help students out in many ways. For example, if a student has a low GPA, having a higher SAT/ACT score helps prove that you’re fit for the university.

“These exams help colleges and universities evaluate a large number of applications and ensure that they are ready for the rigor of college academics. Plus, they give admissions representatives a more complete view of an applicant’s academic capabilities,” said Ana Felce in an APU article about why testing scores matter.

Felce also makes a great point in bringing up scholarships. How will students be differentiated for scholarships if they all don’t take the SAT/ACT? Without these exams, students would be hard to categorize. Even though the SAT/ACT are not everything when it comes to college, they are not meaningless.

While it sucks to take these exams, I really think it’s beneficial during the application process and once you’ve been accepted, it will all be over. You will be able to take a deep breath, free from all the stress and live your best life in the college of your choice.