{"id":6617,"date":"2016-05-17t10:15:18","date_gmt":"2016-05-17t17:15:18","guid":{"rendered":"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/hs\/?p=6617"},"modified":"2016-05-16t20:16:51","modified_gmt":"2016-05-17t03:16:51","slug":"what-is-high-stakes-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.catharsisit.com\/hs\/college-admissions\/what-is-high-stakes-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"what is high stakes testing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

the phrase \u2018high-stakes\u2019 conjures up images of a smoke filled casino. at 6am on a tuesday, a desperate gambler bets his last stack of chips on a game of blackjack. he\u2019s dealt a 17. \u201chit me,\u201d he says in a shaky voice\u2026<\/p>\n

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\"what<\/div>\n

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though high-stakes testing is a world away from the las vegas blackjack tables, a common thread ties both activities together: a lot rides on the outcome.<\/strong> does the gambler get to take home a fortune? do you get into your dream college?<\/p>\n

in this article i\u2019ll discuss high-stakes testing in the united states, and why the sat\/act are prime examples. so if you\u2019re getting ready to \u2018roll the dice\u2019 with either of these tests, take a few minutes to learn about why they\u2019re so important for your future.<\/p>\n

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what makes a test high-stakes?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

first of all, there is no such thing as an official high-stakes test. have you ever felt anxious about doing well on a math test? that test was a high-stakes test. has passing a class all come down to the final exam? that exam was a high-stakes test. for you or your peers in high school, ap exams<\/a> are high-stakes tests because a good score will reduce the cost of college later on.<\/p>\n

mention high-stakes testing to just about anyone, though, and you\u2019ll hear about the sat\/act. young americans are told over and over that both tests are the key that will unlock their futures. high scores are necessary to gain admission to selective colleges. yet are there any other reasons why these tests are high-stakes? let\u2019s find out.<\/p>\n

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scholarships<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\"what<\/div>\n

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a variety of scholarships<\/a> use sat\/act scores as a determining factor for awarding money. if you are considering scholarships to pay for college, here are a few avenues of research to see if your scores make the cut:<\/p>\n