BY SOPHIA ZIGELBAUM

It is officially the time of year when seniors across the world are trying to figure out their future, whether it’s college, trade school, a gap year, or something else. 

For the roughly three quarters of BHS students that enroll in college, an inevitable topic of conversation is the College Board’s SAT exam. 

The SATs have long played a major role in the American college process. At present, the overwhelming majority of American high school students continue to take the exam. 

However, in a significant change to precedent, most colleges and universities have in recent years stopped requiring students to submit SAT scores.  In an increasingly test-optional school environment, the real question is: Is taking the SATs or other standardized tests worthwhile anymore? 

Panther News circulated a student questionnaire to capture BHS student perspectives about SATs and their place in the college application process.

“A standardized test score is irrelevant to the type of student someone is, it only measures the type of test taker they are,” BHS Senior Sasha Milendorf said. “In the real world it doesn’t matter what type of a test taker you are. It matters how you learn, study, recite, [and] carry yourself.”

In most cases, today’s students have the option to decide whether to submit their scores as part of their college applications. 

“I only sent them to the school that required it,” said BHS Senior McKeown Kelley. “I will not send them to other schools unless I am within their ideal range of scores.” 

Some Beverly High School students, like Kiana Dang, opted to not take the SATs at all.

“The SAT do not show your absolute true academic ability,”  said Dang.