The SAT’s Disadvantages… and the Strengths That Outweigh Them

For decades, the SAT has been a major part of the college admissions process in the United States. Many students see it as a hurdle they must clear on the path to higher education, while parents and schools often treat it as a marker of academic readiness. Yet despite its long history and widespread use, the SAT has always been controversial. Critics argue that it creates unnecessary stress, reinforces inequality, and doesn’t always reflect the skills colleges value most. Supporters see it as a standardized benchmark, but students themselves often experience its drawbacks more directly. And yes, the SAT isn’t a perfect test; there are some challenges to its efficacy that make many students worried. Today, let’s take a real look at some of the disadvantages of the SAT and see how they shake out in reality.  

High Cost of Testing and Prep

The expenses of taking the SAT are a common concern. There’s the testing fee, the cost of study materials, and hidden costs like transportation to testing sites or registration changes. For families already stretched thin, these add up quickly and can make the SAT feel like an added burden.

But the reality is that if the SAT is a financial burden, there are ways to lighten that load. For the test itself, low-income students are eligible for a fee waiver that lets you take the test twice for free, with unlimited score reports, no late registration or cancellation fees, and even waived application fees at some colleges. You can talk to your school counselor about getting a fee waiver code, or request one directly from the College Board if you meet any of the eligibility requirements.

Test prep is also less costly than it used to be. There are plenty of free self-study options, and recent legal changes have made test prep more accessible to more students. Today, families with 529 savings accounts can even put those funds toward prep. These resources make SAT prep more accessible than ever, showing that cost doesn’t have to be a barrier.

The very existence of free and subsidized resources also highlights one of the SAT’s benefits: transparency. Every student, regardless of background, has access to the same test content and practice tools. Unlike extracurricular activities or private lessons that require significant investment, the SAT levels the field by giving motivated students a chance to prepare without major expense.

Psychological Impact

Many students dread the SAT, and we’ve been talking about this dread for a long time. As far back as the 1990s, learning experts were writing op-eds about the impact that fear of this test has on students. Anxiety is one of the most common complaints about the SAT. The idea of sitting for a timed test that could affect college options feels intimidating. For some students, nerves may get in the way of their best performance, and the SAT becomes a source of stress.

Yet testing pressure isn’t unique to the SAT; it exists throughout education. Midterms, finals, and state exams all carry weight, and learning how to manage performance anxiety is part of academic growth. In that sense, the SAT is practice for the kind of expectations students will encounter in college and beyond. With the right mindset, preparing for the SAT teaches valuable skills in time management, focus, and resilience.

Colleges know that scores don’t tell the whole story. Admissions teams still consider GPA, essays, recommendations, and extracurriculars. That means a less-than-perfect SAT score doesn’t close doors. In fact, for students who excel under pressure, the test can become an advantage, offering a clear way to demonstrate readiness even if their school record has gaps.

The right strategies can also help with test anxiety. If time is a problem for you, you can overcome this fear by learning the test’s timing. Once you get comfortable with timing and other test prep strategies, the test will feel much less intimidating. 

Prep Eats Up Time

Another concern that many students have about the SAT is how much time test prep takes. And that makes a lot of sense– you already have a lot on your plate. You have your regular schoolwork, extracurricular activities, maybe even a job. And now you have to study for the SAT, which can feel like taking an extra class you didn’t want to sign up for. 

The reality, though, is that test prep can be scaled to fit into busy schedules. Short daily practice sessions can be just as effective as marathon study blocks, especially when you work with a tutor who can help you target weak areas. Preparing for the SAT is also never wasted time. The reading, writing, and math skills practiced translate directly to high school classes and first-year college coursework. In that way, prep doubles as academic reinforcement.

Students who treat prep as a gradual process often find that the discipline they build benefits them long after the test is over. Far from being a distraction, prep becomes another way to strengthen habits that support success in college.

Accessibility Issues

Students with disabilities sometimes worry about whether they’ll receive the right accommodations on test day. While this process requires documentation, the College Board has expanded approvals to match accommodations already provided in schools. That means students with IEPs or 504 plans are more likely than ever to receive the support they need.

Access to test centers has also improved. The new digital format allows for more flexible administration, and the move to shorter, adaptive testing reduces strain on students who may struggle with focus or endurance. For those in rural areas, earlier registration ensures a seat, and the streamlined online process makes finding a center easier. And school day testing takes transit to a testing center out of the picture entirely. 

These changes demonstrate that the SAT is adapting with the times, making accessibility less of a drawback than it once was. The test is not static; it continues to evolve in ways that benefit students.

The SAT Is Worth It

The SAT isn’t perfect, and students are right to acknowledge its challenges. There are costs to consider, time to manage, and stress to overcome. Still, the advantages outweigh the downsides. The test continues to adapt, offering free prep, expanded accommodations, and a fairer digital format. It remains one of the few consistent measures that colleges can use to compare applicants from vastly different backgrounds.

For students, the SAT is more than a test; it’s a chance to prove themselves on a level playing field, to strengthen academic habits, and to open doors in the admissions process. A single exam will never define a student’s potential, but the SAT provides an important tool that helps colleges recognize talent wherever it’s found. And nobody knows that better than me. 

I didn’t grow up going to elite schools; my family ran a motel in a Las Vegas school district with a 40% dropout rate. But my SAT scores and the hard work I put in to earn them opened doors that I didn’t know were there. Your test scores can do the same, and I want to help you get there. That’s why I founded Prep Expert®: To help students learn how to approach the SAT with the strategies that will put them over the top. Check out our course catalog today and find the prep course that’s right for you.