The Effects of ACT/SAT on Students' Stress Essay Example

I have never felt more overwhelmed than the night before I take the ACT. It makes me feel like my entire life rides on one test. The ACT/SAT are college placement tests that help colleges determine whether you are admitted to their school. Each test is around four hours with four different sections. For the ACT the sections are math, science, reading, and English. For the SAT the sections are reading, writing and English, and math. They are similar tests but students can either decide which is a better fit for them, or some colleges accept one over the other. This one test that is about speed rather than precision, can alter where a student ends up in life. One four-hour test can determine someone’s entire life. A report titled “ACT/SAT Test Preparation and Coaching Program,” states the three ways these tests are high stakes. They determine admission decisions, they can increase or decrease being accepted into selective schools, and they dictate scholarship opportunities. One test can change everything and have huge impacts(ACT/SAT Test Preparation and Coaching Program). The ACT/SAT affects teenagers' stress, mental health, and college paths. 

Teenagers undergo an insane amount of stress throughout their lives. They have to balance many different aspects of their lives while trying to figure out who they are. Many have sports, work, and social lives. Teenagers have to manage school while trying to find time to study for this test. One large stress in my life in high school was finding time to study, and trying to find the right way to study. They are difficult tests and take a lot of time to study for. I know that this is a common issue for my peers in high school as well.  Stress can be extremely harmful to people. The article, “Construction of the Examination Stress Scale for Adolescent Students” states that “Examination stress is a common and prevalent phenomenon among teenagers...The examination stress phenomenon is not only prevalent but also likely to have a negative impact.” This article says adolescent students undergo a lot of stress and it is likely to have bad effects. The ACT/SAT have huge effects of stress since they have so much riding on them. A multiple-choice test can change your entire path. I have mounds of stress added to my life because of college placement tests. 

Mental health has been a huge topic in the world this past year. Mental health has to do with your emotional health and the ability to deal with things people may face. Every time I turn on my phone I see this being a wide discussion. Whether it is through social media influencers or healthcare professionals, mental health is a pressing issue. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported, “A growing percentage of San Diego County teens are attempting suicide and fewer are taking college-entrance tests, according to a county report card released Tuesday.” This shows a direct correlation between suicide rates and amount of people taking the SAT. If people are taking these tests less because of the effects they have, something isn’t right. Fewer teens are taking college placement tests because of how detrimental they are to mental health. Suicide rates have been shown to increase because of college placement tests. This is an everlasting effect because people are losing their lives. Having poor mental health can lead to mental illness. This can lead to more and more suicides. I have personally been affected by suicide. A student in my old school in Pittsburgh committed suicide four years ago. Although he wasn’t one of my closest friends I was very hurt by this. It made me become aware of the idea of mental health. I was exposed firsthand to suicide and the pain it can cause. So many people were affected by his death, the entire community mourned. Being aware of people's mental health and the precautions that can be taken to help are extremely important. College placement tests are shown to increase poor mental health and suicide rates. 

The final effect of the ACT/SAT is college paths. Many colleges use these tests as a huge contributing factor to whether someone is accepted or not. It is one of the largest factors they look at to decide if someone is a good candidate. This can lead to career opportunities. People are more likely to get more career options when they get an education at a well-respected school. Many students are extremely smart but not good test-takers. I consider myself a part of this category. I can do extremely well in school but not when it comes down to taking a four-hour test. This can affect a student's entire life. If a student isn’t good at taking tests they can be penalized by not getting into a good college. The ACT/SAT also helps colleges dictate scholarships. The better a student does on these tests the more likely they are to get more financial aid. This can help a college student but can also be damaging. It can dictate the amount of debt they are in for the rest of their lives. Getting an education is one of the most expensive things some people pay for. People can continue to pay off college debt for years and years. College continues to get more and more expensive, “From the late 1980s to 2010s, the cost of an undergraduate degree has risen by 213% at public schools and 129% at private schools…”(Insider News).  If a student doesn’t do well on the ACT/SAT then colleges won’t give them as much money and will make them more in debt. I have seen this happen with my siblings who went to college. Some of them are still continuing to pay off loans years later. The ACT/SAT have lasting effects on college paths for students. 

College placement tests are universally accepted for students. The majority of colleges require students to submit their ACT/SAT scores to apply to college. When applying to colleges this year I had to submit my scores to certain schools. I have seen the effects these college placement tests have taken on me. The ACT/SAT has effects on teenagers’ stress, mental health, and college paths.