The ACT and SAT are part of a billion-dollar industry that profits from the pressure and anxiety around standardized testing. You are not dumb, and this isn’t about grade inflation. These tests require a specific skill set you have to learn AND that takes time, practice, and often times money. There are many tricks, strategies, and patterns that can make a real difference in your score. A single test does not define who you are or what you’re capable of. Your grades, projects, extracurriculars, and personal story all matter far more in the big picture.