To SAT or not to SAT

The debate over the use of standardized test scores in college admissions decisions got even more complicated this week. That’s because an influential organization in the college entrance world has suggested that schools consider dropping their requirements that applicants take the SAT or ACT exams and instead look more at high school grades and other tests more directly aligned with high school courses.

The National Assn. for College Admission Counseling issued a report that did not advocate ending standardized testing altogether. But the association’s commission on such standardized exams did say that more schools should consider doing without these traditional exams so dreaded by teenagers.

Instead, colleges and universities could switch to such tests as the College Board’s subject exams that are based on specific academic subjects, the report suggested. Or perhaps the testing world should consider developing a new curriculum-based exam, it said.

The study noted that many U.S. students pay for extensive coaching and prep courses before taking the SAT or ACT. Those classes can be expensive, leaving students who can’t afford them at a disadvantage in the college entrance race.

"Despite their prevalence in American high school culture, college admission exams — such as the SAT and ACT — may not be critical to making good admission decisions at many of the colleges and universities that use them," declared the commission, which was chaired by William Fitzsimmons, Harvard University’s dean of admission and financial aid. Harvard still requires the tests.

The vast majority of top colleges continue to require such tests, describing them as a fair way to judge students from widely divergent high schools, especially in an era of grade inflation. But in recent years, some schools have made them optional or dropped them altogether. Those include Wake Forest in North Carolina and Smith College in Massachusetts.

The University of California, however, may be moving in a different direction. The UC regents are studying a proposed change in freshman admissions standards that would keep the SAT or ACT but drop the two subject exams that are now required. Advocates of the change say many students who would otherwise be eligible for admission end up missing out just because they fail to take the subject tests.

The college admission counseling group's panel also took aim at a favorite target in academia, or least a favorite target for schools that do not do well in national rankings. The study denounced the use of SAT and ACT scores as factors in the rankings of colleges developed by consumer guidebooks and such publications as U.S. News & World Report.

The panel's full report is available online.

-- Larry Gordon

Comments

[Jared]

In 1992 I had a 750 combined SAT score and still made it into college, while graduating with a 3.0 from WVU in 4 years. The SAT scores don't show anything about passion and hard work. Before taking the "Princeton Review" I had received a 740 combined scored. Street smarts, hard work, and finding your passion are something we need to find in students instead of having a good abililty to pass a test. You could be the smartest person in the world and still end up broke.

[Tutor Ted]

SAT/ACT test a very limited range of intelligence. Knowing these tests as well as I do (I prep kids for both exams), I don't quite see how they fit into the equation of success in college. They do test a certain type of problem-solving and executive functioning, but those are just two elements of a student's complete academic package.

[Tutor Ted]

SAT/ACT test a very limited range of intelligence. Knowing these tests as well as I do (I prep kids for both exams), I don't quite see how they fit into the equation of success in college. They do test a certain type of problem-solving and executive functioning, but those are just two elements of a student's complete academic package.

[EDUARDO]

TO SAT AND NOT TO SAT SOUNDS INTERESTING. I DON'T LIVE IN US, I LIVE IN a ugly and not ugly town named Ixtenco, but I go at high school to a almost cool city called Huamantla, so, in an English classroom where I have no class there's a cartel of SAT Test, with some info, so, I searched in the weband now Iread your blog( I think so), and your scholar life sounds interesting and something complicated, here, entering to the university is arelativily easy thing., there are no exams and extracurricular activities to do.
IF YOU READ MY MESSAGE, YOU KNOW IT'S PATHETHIC, I'M SO SORRY, I'm from,Mexico, i'm not and Mexican or American Patriot and Ilike LOS ANGELES.

[Cristina Gutierrez]

Not just as a student, but as a student who cannot take tests well I do worry about taking the SAT's. I will be taking my first official SAT test next semester and I worry because I know that I do not take tests well. I despise the fact that the perfect score has been raised to 2400 which to me indicates that they will not be "dropping" this tests anytime soon. I am from a lower middle class and I'm going to say this right now, I do not have the money to hire a tutor to prepare me for this exam. I will just have to deal with my review books and hope for the best.
-cg