Can attest measure a persons intelligence? I’ve been asking myself this question ever since I struggle to succeed in the ACT the five times I took it. I was told by the school I attend now, that I was unable to get a certain amount of money if I did not receive only one point higher. I have studied for over hundreds of hours for this test. Over the span of a year I’ve taken it five times and somehow still find it challenging. Why can’t other kids succeed without studying and I am struggling? Does this mean that I am not a good student? Even though I have a 4.2 GPA? Did one point count that much? Can a test measure my intelligence and can appoint be the barrier between me and 5000 extra dollars? Who made this test, what right does this test have to take away the opportunity of so many. Why does this test work?

I am here to argue that a test is unable to measure the intelligence of everyone. Quick history lesson. In 1926, a group of college board members came together to create a test to measure the IQ of young men in listing into the military. Were they smart enough to learn quickly and retain that information? Should we send them to a certain branch? Testing was a way to measure memory and quick learning for those purposes. In 1930, these board members took this to high school students. Standford University reasearch tells us this. It also reminds us that these are different times in a very different culture suited for a very different task than what standardize tests are used for now. We are told in the modern world that it is important for highschooler to take the ACT and SAT because it could count for 50% or more of our admissions acceptance. It is the job of every highschooler to prepare for this test in order to succeed. But what exactly does this test ask of the students? In the modern world, the test is split up into primarily four sections of math, English, reading, and science (Visual learning and problem-solving). Dissections can only be done in a limited amount of time and you cannot go back and change your answers after the time is up. Students are given one break in between the half-point. Is this fair? Can all people succeed in an environment like this? The correct answer, knowing every human being learns differently, is no.

There are many problems to this form of testing. The AC T and SAT create obvious gaps between classes, races, and quality of education in schools. The Washington post, in a research piece, reminds us that will be your people are more likely to hire tutors and be enrolled in a private class that can afford stronger teachers. Money provides a quick advantage to success in this test. Race is another problem. Due to systematic racism black neighborhoods end up with less qualified teachers, students that have to work during high school to support families which provides less time to study, and more commonly have lower income rates which discourages the idea of a tutor. Not only is there a clear race and class problem but there is a cheating issue because stakes are so high for families and students. There have been multiple years in which tests have been canceled because credible sources reveal accurate cheating from Repeated questions, social media, and in accurate in person testing. Some families may hire someone to take their students test providing a fake ID. This is quite common issue that face is America and it’s very difficult to keep control over.

. A similar pattern holds for the ACT with a 2011 average composite score of 22.4 for white students and 17.0 for black students



students. Stanford university study reminds us that questions can be repeated on tests

I’ll problems must have a solution. It is a well-known fact that there are many different types of learners. Some students may thrive trying to enter eyes tests while some will struggle to stay on time like I did or clearly think after five hours of straight testing. Stanford university research argues that it must be credible to analyze the students GPA and overall progress and understanding of high school material in order to gauge their success in college. Different students want to major in different things. It is unfair of us to ask them to be put in a box. Rather, test them in different ways. Whether that be verbal, Siri schoolteacher, through physical memory games, or even through art. Times have changed since the 1920s and it is time or education system and standardized testing changes with it. We live in a new world with new youth. It is Americas job to provide better education for high school children’s to be allowed to succeed. The AC T and SAT must cease to exist and find a new body to live in. Colleges must cease to rely so heavily on this one test and look other places to determine their intelligence.