This is the con argument for whether or not the SAT is a good measure of intelligence.  To view the pro click here.

The SATs are a horrible misrepresentation of the ability and intelligence of college bound students, and they receive a far greater amount of attention than they deserve.

The idea that a four hour test on three basic subjects can determine how a student will do in his/her selected college or major or even career path is absolutely absurd.

There are too many uncontrollable circumstances that can affect a student’s performance on the SATs for it to hold any significant weight in college decisions. Test anxiety and students being self-proclaimed bad test takers are real issues that could potential hold very gifted students back from getting into their dream school.

Colleges should focus on other areas of a student’s academic and extracurricular record to determine a student’s ability, rather than a number from College Board.

For many colleges, teacher recommendation letters in addition to a guidance counselor’s are optional while SAT scores are mandatory. This is the opposite of what it should be.

Colleges should require a wide variety of recommendation letters from a multitude of a student’s teachers that don’t just pad a student’s image but give an accurate and detailed description of their  impression of a student’s ability in their subject and school in general.

This, rather than a test score, would offer colleges a better idea about a student’s attitude and ability to learn.

Colleges should also focus on a student’s extracurriculars. If a student does fairly well in school but is the captain of a team, the leader of student government and clubs, an avid volunteer in the community, a great musician, or all of the above, is that all nullified because he/she didn’t get a great SAT score?

Colleges that focus on the SAT are missing out on great candidates for their schools. Just because someone aces a test doesn’t mean that he/she are really prepared for college or are a good fit for a school.

Bryan Doherty is an Opinion Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.