Standardized tests like the SAT and ACT are on everyone's minds as the November 1st early admission deadline approaches. Being a high school senior, I know it's a very stressful time. The competition is intense, not only are we competing with people from our school for a spot in a college class, but we are also competing with students from across the nation. The competition is between people of every imaginable background; public schools, private schools, AP, honors and academic classes, rich, poor, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, etc. Students are encouraged to continue their undergraduate education at colleges and universities across the country; however, many students are discouraged from doing so due to the barriers posed by standardized testing. Every high schooler has one of those little secret numbers, and according to my teacher, that number determines our ability to study and succeed in college. The College Board maintains that the SAT is a standardized test, meaning that all high school students in the United States take the same test. At first glance this hypothesis seems true, but a closer look reveals that test scores are determined by factors such as money, gender, test anxiety, and even race. For most high school students looking to attend an elite college, the SAT is more than a test. It's one of life's greatest landmarks. While reading the essay titled Does the SAT Predict College Success? I came across various reasons why the author believes standardized tests should be maintained and why they are fair. The argument was that they don't limit access or diversity. Standardized testing limits college affordability and also limits diversity. The College Board assumes that everything…middle of the paper…makes a decision that is not based on scores. I hope that wherever I go it suits me personally and not just my scores. I hope you will reconsider your opinion on the use of standardized testing. I also hope that you, as you read the response to your essay, change your opinion and use your authority to influence other people to do the same. Thanks, Works quoted http://schoolsoftought.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/ 17/the-high-stakes-of-standardized-tests/http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/on_performance/2011/ 07/why_we_still_need_standardized_testing_post-scandal.htmlhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/ 2012/05/02/poor-students-are-the-real-victims-of-college-discrimination/http://ideas. time.com/2012/10/11/why-its-time-to-get- rid-of-standardized-tests/http://www.american.com/archive/2007/july-august-magazine-contents/ abolish-the-sat