Rethinking the SAT: The Future of Standardized Testing in University Admissions

The controversy surrounding the implications of standardized tests for college admissions is constant among the general public, academics, administrators.
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Some people believe that standardized tests, such as the SAT and ACT are an efficient way of assessing a large body of students. Atkinson notes that these tests measure the verbal and mathematical abilities of a student, while eliminating the factor of grade inflation and the varying quality of United States schools. Standardized testing also removes a bias from the application process. One change Atkinson wants to see made is the use of achievement tests, rather than the traditional aptitude test. He views the SAT as a basic test of mental ability, and those that score high believe they are guaranteed admittance into a college or university.

Rethinking the SAT : the future of standardized testing in university admissions

Some colleges and universities want to eliminate test scores all together from the application process. For example, Wake Forest University has changed to a test-optional application.

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Should we get rid of standardized testing? - Arlo Kempf

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Digication e-Portfolio :: The Use of Standardized Test Scores in College Admissions :: Rough Draft

Your rating has been recorded. Write a review Rate this item: This question is much more complicated than it seems because bias has a variety of meanings.


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An everyday meaning of the term often refers to the fairness of standardized test results for predicting future performance of disadvantaged students who may have previously had few educational resources. For example, should Dwayne, a high school student who worked hard but had limited educational opportunities because of the poor schools in his neighborhood and few educational resources in his home, be denied graduation from high school because of his score on one test?

It was not his fault that he did not have the educational resources, and if given a change with a change his environment e. Viewed this way, standardized test scores reflect societal inequalities and can therefore punish students who are less privileged. The scores can also be interpreted erroneously as reflecting students' fixed inherited capacities. Educational researchers, however, typically consider bias in three more technical ways: These ideas have special meanings not necessarily shared in everyday conversations about testing.

Test items may be harder for some groups than others. An example of social class bias in a multiple choice item asked students the meaning of the term field. The students were asked to read the initial sentence in italics and then select the response that had the same meaning of field Popham , p.

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The correct answer is supposed to be D. Testing companies try to minimize these kinds of content problems by having test developers from a variety of backgrounds review items and also examining statistically if certain groups find some items easier or harder. However, problems do exist and a recent analyses of the verbal SAT tests indicated that Whites tend to scores better on easy items whereas African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans score better on hard items Freedle,