Its 12:26 p.m. and I finally heard a “Stop and put your pencils down.”

After hearing these words,  I felt a wave of relief. Not because I thought I did outstanding on the SAT or anything, but because I was done.

I had completed my 10th and last standardized test. I took he ACT three times and the SAT seven times. I have taken the test so many times because it is difficult for me to let a test date go by for no reason.

I always think to myself “what if it is the best one yet?”  the thought of getting a better score is enticing enough to me that I sign up almost every month. And every month after taking a test I think “wow that was the best one yet, I did so good”, and then two weeks later, when I get the results back, and they are never what I expect (and not in a good way). It always disappoints me, but also motivates me to take it again.

I know everything there is to know about the SAT and ACT (except the correct answers to the multiple choice). I know that for the SAT your going to take the reading section, grammar, math, the math with calculator. For the ACT your going to take the writing, math, reading, then science section. I know popular questions they ask and how they format it. I know standardized tests.

For me, the SAT and ACT have many pros and cons. For the SAT, I like that the math is half the test whereas math is one-fourth of the ACT. I like this because I tend to do better in the math sections. I dislike the ACT because of the science section. The science section is the last section, so by the time I get to it I am worn out and ready to go home. My eyes are glazed over, and I can not possibly comprehend the complex graphs they give me. But all in all both test are bad, and I’d rather not take them.

One thing that I have learned from the SAT and ACT is that it should not be weighed so heavy in college admissions. One-hundred fifty four obscure questions do not capture what you have learned throughout your high school career. Also the tests take just under four hours. Staying concentrated on the same old boring questions for that time period is right next to torture. Standardized tests turn a person into a number and in no way accurately reflect a students intelligence.

The SAT and ACT cost $46 each time you take it,  not including late fees or essay charge. Taking these tests multiple times can get expensive (I should know.)  These tests are required by most major colleges. Meaning that at the very least you are going to pay $46 along with the $12 it costs to send to each school. The SAT and ACT is a scam to make money, as it is imperative that college bound students take these tests and pay their associated fees. All in all I made my best score somewhere in the middle.