Should Standardized Testing Be Required for College Acceptance?

Is standardized testing a valid method to determine the acceptance or denial of a high school student into an educational institution? This thesis is a scholarly essay that examines the unintended consequences of requiring SAT or ACT scores for educational institution admittance. This project explores other methods for colleges and universities to use as a way of determining whether or not a student should be accepted or denied into the institution. Specifically, in my project, I researched the reasonings behind using standardized test scores as a primary method for determining the admittance of a student, the unintended consequences of requiring standardized test scores, and different options educational institutions can use to weigh the acceptance or denial of a student. The goal of this project is to synthesize existing research on this topic for college/university educators and administrators, who have yet to be informed about the drawbacks of requiring standardized test scores for institutional admittance. In order to address these points, I have conducted a meta-analysis of current, published research regarding standardized tests and college admissions. I have discovered that there are multiple unintended consequences of the SAT and ACT such as racism and socioeconomic bias. I have also researched other methods educational institutions can use to determine admittance such as becoming test- optional and interviewing potential students