Role in College Admissions

High-stakes exams play a pivotal role in college admissions processes by serving as key indicators of academic readiness and potential. Institutions of higher education often rely on standardized test scores to make admission decisions and award scholarships, using these exams to identify candidates who have demonstrated academic merit through measurable performance.

Exams like the SAT and ACT in the United States are critical components of college applications. Higher scores can enhance a student’s competitiveness for admission to selective universities and eligibility for merit-based scholarships, reinforcing the significance of exam performance in recognizing and rewarding individual merit.

Given their significant influence, high-stakes exams also shape educational policies, prompting analysis of their broader implications for merit-based education.