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Imagine a world where students work all year to take one test, pay tutors to teach them tips and tricks on how to pass these tests, and where college admissions are based on that student’s performance on these given tests. That’s probably not so difficult to imagine, considering that is high school students’ reality.

Because colleges want good, simple comparison between high school students, every year, thousands of students are forced to take these tests.

While their purpose is admirable, it is completely unreasonable. Not only do some students experience test anxiety, but some also face problems with the amount of time given per question or misunderstanding the questions– let alone any real world situations that may have affected their performance (such as arguments with parents or friends, deaths in the family, or a bad grade on a math test).

Those tests do not indicate whether students are having a bad day or simply misunderstood the questions. In the eyes of the College Board and college admissions counselors, however, the SAT and ACT scores are clear cut and indicate students’ readiness for college.

For weeks before the SAT or ACT, students spend their time and money on preparatory books and classes. With each book costing $30 or more and the increasing cost for prep classes, students can spend hundreds of dollars prior to taking their exam.

Students must then register for the test– a fee ranging from $40-$50. While fee waivers are available for those who qualify, anyone who takes the test repeatedly must pay the fees multiple times.

If a student buys a prep book for $30, takes classes for $150, and pays for the SAT, the cost to take the test is $210. If sudents’ score does not meet their expectations, they will have to spend at least another $40 to register for another SAT. So, after spending $300 on exams and still not receiving a desired score, they re-evaluate the process. Is it right that students have to pay for a test they are forced to take?

While it is not unreasonable for colleges to want a non-biased comparison between their applicants, students who follow the recommended college process the application process is ridiculously costly. With six application fees, usually around $80, and sending your scores to those six colleges, that is another $540 students are forced to spend.

In the interest of all students and families who do not wish to spend thousands on the application process alone (after all, college tuition is still to be paid), a different alternative should be found. Colleges (or even the College Board) could waive some fees for all students– not only those whose parents earn a certain income.v