More than likely in any student’s high school experience, he or she has to have heard someone somewhere rant about why ACT and SAT scores don’t matter, spewing out information as to how little they affect any sort of outcome in your life. Looking at the big picture, however, your test scores do matter, and they can help you in more ways than you would expect.

To start, ACT and SAT tests have been around for decades. They have squeezed themselves into our educational system and have held a prominent position that assists in selecting college applicants, job applicants, and schooling applicants. This system has been around for ages, so what is the point in changing this? As they say, “If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.”

Secondly, an argument made is the opinion that ACT and SAT scores shouldn’t be the most important, prominent feature on a college application. Well… it’s not, actually. According to several admissions officers around the country– including senior admissions officer Chuck Hughes at Harvard– claim that SAT and ACT scores are only the third most important factor. Schools look more at your grades throughout your entire high school experience, and how you get involved with your school and community.

Taking one or both of these tests is a choice. Whether or not a student takes them is entirely dependent on what they wish to do after high school. Taking these tests does barely any harm, especially since they’re some of the only tests that can taken over, and over, and over again until the taker gets a score that they are personally happy with. Taking and scoring “well” on the ACT or SAT is based on personal standards and choices. It has absolutely nothing to do with “the system” forcing you to take and ace a test.

If a student is not planning to go to college after high school however, taking the SAT or the ACT can still be incredibly beneficial. As years go on, more and more companies and employers are asking for SAT and ACT scores on resumes. Not only that, but many people who did not attend college after high school tend to go back, even years after graduation. About 17 percent of the students attending in most U.S. universities are over the age of 35 years. If someone ever changes their mind and wishes to attend college, taking the SATs and ACTs while in high school would be incredibly helpful.

Finally, there is the argument that the idea of such an important testing system “deprives people of happiness” and “induces stress.” Firstly: who likes taking tests? Are they supposed to induce happiness in the first place? Secondly: Tests are stressful for literally everyone. It’s a stressful situation. Stress is the most normal reaction to the idea of a test. But again, taking either or both of these tests is a personal choice, so saying that these tests is a weight upon the shoulders of all students is incredibly inaccurate. It’s a personal matter. If a student decides to take the test, they should strive and do their best to get the benefits they desire and need.