Do You Have to Take the SAT?

If you are seeking admission to your dream college, then the answer is a big YES!

The Scholastic Aptitude Test or the more popularly known as SAT test is one of the most renounced and popular exams taken up by high school students seeking a college education. It is a common assessment given by millions of students around the world who want to get accepted into colleges easily, without the hassle of separate optional tests and high school scores being taken into consideration.

Although the SAT is not the only way to get accepted into college. A lot of children do believe otherwise and an obvious question they ask is ‘Should I look for SAT tutoring near me?’

Directors of undergraduate admissions of various universities believe that the SAT test is not the only deciding factor when it comes to offering students admission. It serves as an observation towards the dedication and seriousness of a student with regard to their academic preparation, and makes it easier for them to select kids from an enormous pool of applicants from around the world.

Different universities have different priorities when it comes to offering admissions, for example Duke considers letters of recommendation from the school and extra-curricular activities as a priority. They seek students who are active socially and intellectually in the community. At Cal Tech the admissions panel gives importance to the realm of Math and Science activities outside the classroom. Similarly, other universities may hold other parameters as priorities while admitting students to their colleges.

These days educationists and counselors are starting to realize the amount of anxiety that standardized tests cause in high school kids. It’s not uncommon for students and parents alike to look for the right SAT practice test or SAT tutoring service or even SAT online courses. Hence many universities are open to other options for the admission process. Students also opt for the ACT test which is a bit different from the SAT test, although universities accept either test scores 90% of the time. The ACT test places more emphasis on math and science concepts as compared to the SAT which focuses on vocabulary instead. 

The score of all the sections of the ACT test are looked at cumulatively, compared to the SAT test which requires a certain score for each section separately. Hence if you are weak in one section, you have a chance to make up for it in another section given that it’s the ACT test. Also, the questions are way more straightforward on the ACT test as compared to the SAT test. Given the pros and cons of the SAT test and ACT test, students can decide which test they’ll be most comfortable with and which universities accept either of them. If students are hoping to get into the top and elite universities, the SAT test or ACT test is a major requirement to apply to such universities. This is because it serves as a benchmark in terms of your academics, combined with other extracurricular activities.

This gives us an idea that the SAT test is a doorway to receiving a college education, although it isn’t the only doorway. There are other factors which are as important which come into play. Various universities do accept the test-optional approach too combined with high school GPAs, such as Liberal Arts colleges and community colleges. There is a whole list of such colleges online, which can accordingly help you decide whether you want to take up the SAT test or not. Deciding whether to register for the SAT test or not is entirely a personal choice. There is no wrong or right answer when it comes to making this decision. But this choice should be made cautiously keeping in mind your future plans and interests. Students can always consider the help of educational counselors and online SAT tutoring to decide the best plan of action.

To help you decide better giving an idea of the SAT test process and all that’s required, an online SAT Prep course is also a great option. These courses can walk you through the portion and syllabus of the SAT subjects, help you evaluate your strength and weaknesses - all from the comfort of your own home. Parents and students can also try with a free trial lesson to get a gist of the online SAT prep help offered, along with other services such as free worksheets and counseling. It is best to decide which test to give or not at the earliest. Making life changing decisions at the last minute could prove to be harmful to a student’s career and future. So go ahead and start researching your favorite colleges and their requirements to get into your dream university!