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5 Reasons to Take the SAT and ACT Tests - Day 4


Test scores provide protection against grade inflation.

According to the Department of Education and the College Board, the average High School GPA was 2.68 in 1990, and 3.38 in 2016. A recent national survey of K-8 parents found that 90% of parents believe that their child is achieving at or above grade level, and that 66 percent think that their kid is above average. Inflated GPAs may give parents and students an incorrect impression of academic readiness, and they make it more challenging for college admissions officers to differentiate among applicants. Consider this excerpt from the Harvard admissions website:

“Given the wide variation in how students prepare for Harvard – as well as the fact that most applicants and admitted students have outstanding academic records – it is difficult for high school grades to differentiate individual applications. That does not mean that high school grades are unimportant. Students who come to Harvard have done well day to day in their high school studies, providing a crucial foundation for academic success in college, including a 97% – 98% graduation rate. SAT and ACT tests are better predictors of Harvard grades than high school grades”.

Good grades are certainly a key part of a successful college application. However, students will stand out among the applicants if they have good test scores as well.


Thats it for today. Tomorrow we'll post reason #4 of "5 Reasons to Take the SAT and ACT Tests".

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