It's fantastic that more Utah high school students are thinking of the future and taking the ACT college entrance exam ("More Utah kids taking ACT, but scores deflating," Tribune, Aug. 23).

However, with more schools administering the test during school, they are encouraging every student to take it, even though some may not want to. Not every student is prepared to take such a difficult test. It takes a lot of time to prepare. Pressuring unprepared students to take it during school just wastes tax dollars.

The deflation in scores may be due to schools' ACT prep programs. If we want more Utah scholars and more students accepted into college, we need to properly prepare students to take the ACT.

And comparing the scores of whites and Latinos is unnecessary. Race shouldn't be compared. It doesn't make a difference.

Sydney Ward

Highland