Standardized tests are basically meaningless.
No, no, and perhaps. Standardized tests don't prove much besides ranking your ability to take those kinds of tests. Still, these tests are rituals which anyone interested in getting ahead in our meritocratic society must take part in. By developing smart strategies, it is possible to improve your scores without learning new vocabulary words or becoming any better at math. I myself got a 1390 on my first SAT, read the Princeton Review's Guide to Cracking the SAT , and scored a 1580 the next time around.