In a powerful letter published by The New York Times, 16-year-old Claire Mauney, a student from Byram Hills High School, shares what many students know but few adults acknowledge: timed tests don’t measure intelligence—they measure speed, privilege, and test-taking technique. Her letter, one of the Top 10 winners in the NYT Learning Network’s Student Open Letter Contest, has struck a nerve with students and educators alike.
The Real Test: Knowledge or Speed?
Claire describes her experience taking the SAT three times. Despite understanding even the hardest questions, she often ran out of time before she could finish writing her answers. Meanwhile, students with tutors and test strategies could turn multi-step questions into shortcuts.
This is the heart of her argument: timed tests reward fast guesswork and test prep, not deep comprehension. The stopwatch isn’t neutral—it favors privilege, quick recall, and strategic training.
Flawed Logic, Flawed System
The letter directly challenges common justifications for timed testing:
- “It builds real-world skills.”
Claire argues no one designs airplanes or writes novels on a timer. The real world values depth, revision, and time to think. - “It ensures fairness.”
But fairness for whom? Students with ADHD, anxiety, language barriers, or fewer resources are penalized by the clock, not their ability. - “It reflects merit.”
Claire says merit has been replaced by memorization, test prep hacks, and access to expensive tutors or gaming accommodations.
A Call to Educators: Measure What Matters
Claire doesn’t want easier tests. She wants better ones—assessments that reflect learning, not racing. Her message to policymakers and educators is clear: if your goal is to test knowledge, let students show what they know without using time as a weapon.
She invites us to rethink what “smart” looks like in an age where performance is too often confused with speed.
Conclusion: Students Deserve Better
Timed tests are a relic of the past—tools that often reinforce inequality and stress, not understanding. Claire’s letter reminds us that real intelligence takes time. It’s time our tests reflected that, too. At Studea, we understand that education and progress is a holistic process. It’s not only about speed, timing or core expertise, it’s about balance and clarity.