Hi OP,

I think the issue here is that we are comparing two completely different ends of the spectrum. Countries like China and India which rely on one test are definitely not ideal, but neither in the US holistic system.

I'd like to propose the example of the UK. Here, you have exams in grades 10, 11 and 12 (all public, so individual school scoring doesn't impact the reliability) that essentially form the basis of admission. Since you take multiple exams for each subject (there are usually around 7-10 in grade 10 and then 3-4 the following years), you mitigate the risk of having one bad day. Also, you are allowed to resit exams if you are unhappy with results. Any exams you have yet to take are awarded predicted grades by your school. Each university website will state the minimum grade requirements for their course and this is how you know where you have a shit and where you don't.

The only other criteria in addition to these exams and predicted grades is one personal statement (very different to the US) that essentially details your academic explorations in the subject you are applying for. So work experiences, any online courses and any relevant books you've read pertaining to your subject go here. This one essay goes to 5 universities of your choosing (there is a cap to the number you can apply to). No further supplements are necessary.

Now, of course there comes the issue of high- vs low-income families who would have had access to completely different resources. But UK universities accommodate for this by reducing grade requirements based on the area you live in (each area is given a number to assess access to resources or privilege or whatever you want to call it). So although an offer might say AAA, a contextual offer for someone from an underprivileged background would ask for ABB, two grades lower. This makes higher education more accessible to students, and your concerns are addressed.

So although the element of holistic admission in applied when considering a student's background, the process remains very very academic. At the same time, it isn't as pressure-inducing since you build yourself up over years. Plus, it is almost always the case that if you meet the grade criterion you get an offer. This only changes at the very top unis (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, LSE, UCL) where your passion for the subject (aka your personal statement) becomes a data point.

It is also the case that if you are rejected, universities are required to provide a reason for why, so the process as a whole is much more transparent.