ACT Scores Research Paper

A standardized test is an examination that is scored in a prearranged manner; there are two main standard tests, aptitude and achievement tests (Ascd). Aptitude tests predict how well students are likely to perform in an educational setting, and achievement tests are what the school board looks at to base schools’ success (Ascd). As these tests become more difficult and the number of test continue to increase, so does test anxiety and it’s many factors (Gotter). Stressing and worrying over performance on a test, affects students from kindergarten all the way up to PhD students (Gotter). Several components occur when testing situations are at play, such as experiencing intense fear, nervousness, and sometimes even bordering terror (Zuriff p.198). Those who have this setback sometimes consider themselves as “bad test-takers.” There are three causes for them to panic when testing

I studied for weeks, trying to prepare for the ACT. The day finally came for me to take the ACT, my hands shook while I took the test, when I finished I was unsure of how I did. Weeks later I received an email telling me that my scores were ready. I hoped and prayed that I would receive a good score because I knew this score would be important to my future. I logged on to the ACT website, I had received a twenty-two. My score was good enough to be accepted into college, but not good enough to be accepted to a top school or receive many scholarships. If someone does not do well on the ACT, they probably won’t be accepted or receive scholarships. This test is probably one of the most stressful tests some people have ever taken. The ACT measures knowledge, however, it is not the sole factor for success in college. Therefore, it should not be the primary factor that allows students to be accepted to college and receive scholarships.

Test anxiety is a real and measureable problem student’s face regardless of their grade or level of academic achievement. Test anxiety can also adversely affect how students participate in and view the learning process long term. This study was designed to examine the effects of test anxiety on high school students specifically, and how the stress associated with the processes or outcomes of standardized testing can negatively impact their performance. There is also a theory that contributing factors of test anxiety can also impact social anxiety. The purpose of this study is to determine if students with determined higher levels of test anxiety perform lower overall on standardized

Standardized testing has played an important role in the college admission decisions. The role of admission exams is always changing and evolving with time. The most prominent exams used are the SAT and the ACT. Their purpose is for gauging student knowledge for placement and possible success rate. Each test is comprised of numerous educational factors to gauge knowledge. The SAT and the ACT derived from other test forms to become what they are today. In addition to being an entrance exam, the grades obtained from these exams are used to formulate statistical information. Knowing that these tests are a requirement for college entry, one wants to do well on the exam(s). With testing tips and early preparation acceptable scores can

For students to get accepted into most institutes, they must pass the admissions requirements that school has placed. Most likely having a decent SAT/ACT score and a good standing GPA is required, along with recommendations and sometimes an essay. However, should colleges really rely on standardized test scores to determine a student’s success in college? One single test should not determine how well a student would do in college or determine whether they should get accepted into that college. Instead, they should remove the requirement for SAT/ACT scores and rely on the student’s high school grade point average. Students build their GPA within four years, and that can determine their effort, focuses, and diligence, as stated by Jada Bah, “SAT/ACT Scores Alone Should Not Predict College Success.” A four-hour test should override a four-year grade.

Anxiety is a very common disorder when it comes to students in school. There are various types of anxiety, one common example is test taking anxiety. Test taking anxiety is a nervous feeling that students have while taking a test, and sometimes before or after taking the exam. This makes it impossible for students to do their best and to show their knowledge. When students are under stress it causes them to have physical symptoms, such as sweating or rapid breathing. Students who aren't prepared for tests, but care about doing well are also likely to have test anxiety before taking any type of test. Supporters argue standardized tests effectively measure student achievement, and opponents argue that tests are good for measuring students’ performances.

It is a type of performance anxiety that acts up when people have been put under pressure. This affects the way that students do on test. When students are put under the pressure of a standardized test they have trouble performing on it. A student can show up to a test, completely prepared but yet still perform poorly. When a student sits down at a desk, ready to take the standardized test the reality of how this one test is going to affect your entire future. When this reality sits in a student's mind goes blank, they no longer remember the knowledge. They may still know the information however with all of the pressure they forget how to apply it. They go through the test second guessing their every answer, and once they turn in the test the just hope they did well. These student were ready for the test, they were well prepared but yet due to their test anxiety they performed poorly on the test. Students spend years trying to keep their gpa up and when they find out that their gpa isn’t as important as the scores from one test they become extremely worried about that one

Although the ACT tests for college readiness, it mainly shows a student’s knowledge. When a college receives the ACT score they only see what the student knows, not what they have participated in or accomplished in high school. It is an important trait to be smart in school, but it is equally important to be involved as well. The standardized test is effective because it

Practical and theoretical values in using statistics to predicting academic success. Grades, test scores, and GPA are used as criterion across all grades and ages for predicting success. These statistics are used to allocate resources to education. High school grades, GPA, ACT scores, SAT scores, and essays are the criterion needed from universities to evaluate whether the student is a good candidate. These factors alone determine the acceptance into a college. Administrators think these scores are efficient enough to decide whether the student will attend and whether the student will achieve success as a college student. The process of getting into a university or obtaining a higher education degree is a high stakes situation. The reliability and validity of using GPA and grades can be questioned. Grade inflation is not considered when making these high stakes decisions. Grade inflation is high grades given for the same performance at different levels of study or at different time periods (Poropat, 2009; Trapmann et al., 2007). An A Becky earned in English in California is the equivalent of the A Susan earned in English in a small-town school in

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem, but many types of anxiety exist. The most frequent among children and adolescents is the infamous “test anxiety” (“Live and Thrive,” 2016). Sixteen to twenty percent of students in the U.S. experience high levels of test anxiety; another eighteen percent carry moderate levels of test anxiety. Since 2010, test anxiety levels in schools have risen over twenty percent due to the drastic requirements used for college entrance and state exams (Driscoll, n.d., p.1). Even a typical test can send these students into a panic. This makes perfectionists and adolescents with

The ACT has been taken by high school students across the U.S. for decades as a college admissions test for those interested in furthering their education. More recently, states, including Minnesota, have payed to have every one of their juniors take it as a graduation standard. This rule was implemented in Minnesota for only one year until later being removed, which sparked debate on whether or not all students should need to take the ACT. High School juniors should not be required to take the ACT because it is not effective as a graduation standard and it interferes with students learning.

Many aspects of students’ lives dwell on how they do on tests, such as the ACT, SAT, or even their basic grades to be accepted in to college. The tests need to be designed to accurately gather information on the knowledge of the student, the ACT only asks you a hand full of questions on basic subject yet take math for instance there are thousands of areas in math to understand and master. Not only are there more than very specific questions asked the tests do not take in to account the different ways people solve problems such as having to write out question. Some students such as myself cannot do mental math and it takes us longer to understand the question we are being asked to evaluate, yet the ACT is a timed test. This creates a bias in the system that students don’t know math were the real problem could either be test anxiety or a lack of time given to properly complete the test. Testing is deeply rooted in students’ lives, making it an ever more pressing matter to fix the issues that concern us

Are SAT Scores and Family Income Independent of each other in the Test-Takers of 2013 Worldwide?

My subject is whether or not reading to young children will have an impact on their Reading ACT scores as high school juniors. I chose this experiment after having a discussion about Reading ACT scores with my friend. Both her and I have had the exact same English classes and teachers throughout our high school career. Why was her score lower than mine? It is possible that her score was lower because I was read to every night as a child whereas she was not. Because there are not many experiments that have tested this, I have decided to test it.

Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health issues today. Around 25% of adolescents have reported having an anxiety disorder (13). There are many different subtypes of anxiety, including test anxiety, which is feeling an overwhelming disturbance and distress surrounding tests (5). Anxiety in general, but especially test anxiety have been found to impair student performance and well-being over time. School already causes a considerable amount of stress for students, and standardized test scores for college and university admissions adds yet another source of worry. Given the negative psychological effects, including anxiety disorders and depression, that sometimes persist into adulthood, standardized tests shouldn't be mandatory