EDITORIAL: The SAT Can’t Measure What Matters Most
(Photo courtesy collegeboard.org)
By Harshitha Kothapalli – Editor-in-Chief
For years, the SAT has been treated like the golden key to opportunity, the number that can open doors to scholarships, college acceptances, and even a sense of self-worth. One test, one morning, and suddenly your future feels like it’s boiled down to a three-digit score.
But let’s be honest, the SAT doesn’t actually measure the things that matter most.
It doesn’t measure your ability to lead a team, to speak with confidence, or to stand in front of a room and persuade people to believe in your vision. It doesn’t measure how well you build relationships, how you solve real-world problems, or how you adapt when things don’t go according to plan. It doesn’t see the student who works a part-time job, helps raise younger siblings, or organizes community projects on the weekends. It doesn’t see you.
Studies have shown that a high school GPA is a far better predictor of college success than standardized test scores. That’s because GPA reflects consistency, discipline, and resilience: qualities that unfold over time, not under a three-hour time limit. The SAT offers a snapshot, but real potential is revealed through patterns, growth, and the ability to keep showing up even when things are difficult.
And the real world doesn’t hand out multiple-choice questions.
In real life, success depends on the things the SAT ignores: communication, emotional intelligence, leadership, and creativity. It won’t ask if you can mediate a disagreement, pitch an idea, or connect with people from different backgrounds. It won’t measure your ability to inspire others, collaborate on a team, or speak up when something feels wrong. Yet these are the exact skills that make someone stand out, not just in college, but in life.
Recently, some colleges have started to walk back their test-optional policies, reintroducing SAT and ACT requirements into their admissions processes. The justification? A belief that standardized scores offer a “common measure” across diverse school systems. But let’s be clear, just because a number is easy to compare doesn’t mean it tells the whole story.
And history proves it. Some of the most successful people in business, entertainment, and public service didn’t ace the SAT or didn’t even bother taking it. Oprah Winfrey reportedly scored below average. Joe Biden once admitted he didn’t perform well on standardized tests. Even former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia said standardized exams didn’t capture his true strengths. Yet all of them built impactful, high-achieving careers, not because of a test score, but because of their own abilities.
So take the test if you need to. Do your best. But remember that a score is just one part of a much bigger picture. You are not the sum of bubbled answers and test-day nerves. You are your work ethic, your perspective, your voice, and those will always matter more than any number ever could.
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