Setting the standard Wednesday, October 17, 2012 By Jessica Sproles How students do on standardized tests, like the ACT, often affects their college choices. - Devon Stines Advertising    As college deadlines approach us, it seems standardized testing has more power than most of us would like.    One test can have such an effect on the rest of your life, it's actually quite ridiculous. The ACT and SAT are just a couple major examples of standardized tests used in the nation to rank us and ultimately define us on our career paths.    Many would argue that such tests aren't accurate demonstrations of true knowledge. Some people just aren't good at taking tests, while others may have excellent test taking skills but no real transferable knowledge.    This is an argument that I would agree with. While perhaps a standardized test should be partly considered, it isn't fair for it to have so much influence on college acceptance. It is so stressful knowing that if you mess up one test, your goals could be completely hindered.    We've spent our entire lives in school, preparing for these tests but it isn't a matter of knowing the information on them; it's knowing how to take them. This fact is perhaps what makes them so difficult to take, and with every test being different there is no way to ever know for sure if you are effectively prepared to take them.    On the other hand they are important to an extent because test taking skills are necessary to get through college and it is possible to demonstrate some general knowledge through standardized testing.     They set everyone on the same level and are meant to be a fair way to judge the progress of students. This obviously doesn't always prove true but it is possible the intentions are good.     Besides the obvious tests used for things like college or scholarship acceptance, other standardized tests are used throughout the school year on various levels of students. These tests are used for things such as placement in classes. This seems reasonable until you consider that schools are also getting money and a ranking when they make their students take these tests, ultimately leading us to question the motives of these systems.    It is a debated question of whether or not standardized tests are really for the benefit of students, or just the benefit of schools and other organizations. What are we really accomplishing with standardized testing?

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