Florida Universities Should Drop SAT And ACT Requirements Amid Pandemic

Gabriela Enamorado/Staff Writer

Since quarantine began, multiple universities across the country have decided to adopt a “test-optional” policy for standardized college admissions tests, such as the SAT and ACT. The University of California was one of the first first to make those tests optional due to the pandemic.

Florida always likes to stand out and be different from other states, and currently it stands almost alone in refusing to drop the SAT and ACT requirement. It’s no surprise we’re one of the only two states that have not yet implemented “test-optional” policies for standardized testing admission requirements, along with Wyoming. This comes at a huge disadvantage and inconvenience to high schoolers going through the college application process. These are extraordinary circumstances, and Florida should drop the SAT and ACT scores for the admissions requirements for state universities immediately. 

Due to COVID-19, many in-person exams are being canceled. Conditions aren’t safe enough to hold them in person, preventing many kids from getting the test scores that are required for admissions. If there aren’t tests happening, how can they fulfill these requirements? The lack of testing is going to lead to a drop in enrollment at Florida universities, and we can’t just keep pushing back exam dates, especially since Florida is still seeing huge numbers of COVID-19 cases. 

Putting [standardized tests] on hold will be beneficial to incoming freshmen, since the world is on hold as well.

There has been talk about doing online exams as well, but as most of us have learned throughout this pandemic that virtual exams and learning come with plenty of technical difficulties. There would also be a need for super high-tech anti-cheating programs, which many students don’t trust. This doesn’t seem like a realistic or effective solution. 

Also, expecting students to study for and ace these standardized tests in the midst of a pandemic, racial tensions and many other global events is absurd. Many people are struggling right now, and taking some pressure off of incoming college students would help. Worrying about exam scores right now is just going to increase pressure, further affecting students’ mental health. 

Some people think that standardized testing as a whole should be abolished. This is a valid thought, since standardized testing does not prove a students worth and doesn’t take different learning styles into consideration. The SATs and ACTs put too much pressure on teenagers when they’re still in their developmental years. Not everyone is a good test taker. 

Low-income students and people of color often fall short in the admissions process because of SAT and ACTs. More often tha not, they don’t have access to resources that help them be prepared for the exams. 

Since there are already so many problems with standardized testing, it seems right to at least put them on hold while the world is up in smoke. 

Florida has extended the deadlines to submit test scores until December 1, which is good. But it’s still unknown when it will be safe enough to go and take-in person exams, so they might as well put it on hold indefinitely.

College admissions exams are already flawed. Having them during a pandemic is shining a light on those flaws. Putting them on hold will be beneficial to incoming freshmen, since the world is on hold as well. Hopefully, students will be relieved from this and it’ll be a push to greater change in the future.

DISCLAIMER:

The opinions presented within this page do not represent the views of PantherNOW Editorial Board. These views are separate from editorials and reflect individual perspectives of contributing writers and/or members of the University community.

Featured image by danny O. on Flickr.

Be the first to comment on "Florida Universities Should Drop SAT And ACT Requirements Amid Pandemic"

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*