Ever since hundreds of colleges and universities went test-optional for the 2020-2021 applicant pool, standardized testing has been brought into question of whether they truly are a good indicator of an individual’s intelligence. The most infamous standardized exam, the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or the SAT, was created in 1926 and is still a recognized measurement of an applicant, almost a hundred years later. However, the gain of research throughout the years has indicated that standardized testing cannot measure a person’s intelligence, is the SAT an outdated test?
The SAT consists of two major sections, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Mathematics. The essay portion of the SAT is considered to be separate from the overall test and score and is no longer a part of the exam since 2021. With these two sections, it is already demonstrated that the SAT tests a very small portion of a person’s overall knowledge. Both sections have also been under scrutiny for the unfairness of questions asked. The reading section favors native-English speakers, with many questions asking about the definition of certain terms or stylistic elements of a piece. This can be incredibly difficult for the undereducated, or those who do not speak English well. The reading section also typically contains one historical passage, which is usually that of American history. The varying levels of background knowledge of American history can greatly impact a student’s score, which is unfair since College Board does not direct students to know prior historical knowledge before the exam. The mathematics section is also designed poorly. This section covers algebra, geometry, and pre-calculus, which many students do not even have a chance to fully complete in their high-school curriculum before they can take the SAT. Students are forced to teach themselves these concepts, which is, again, incredibly unfair. The SAT math questions also happen to be formatted in word problems, which is unlike math problems that students typically learn in their high-school math course. Because of this, being a good math student does not always equate with receiving a high math score.
Doing well on standardized exams is not only based on the amount of prior knowledge a test-taker comes in with, but also on the amount of studying they have done beforehand, which tends to correlate with wealth. Wealthier students have access to prep courses and materials that give them the ability to learn how to master the exam. While there are free ways to study for the exam, such as through Khan Academy, these prep courses have access to more material from the College Board, giving students a better preparation for standardized tests. Furthermore, it has been shown that an SAT score cannot be attributed entirely to one’s work ethic or intelligence. According to a study from MIT, more prosperous people were not more intelligent– they simply had more resources and better circumstances.
As someone who was privileged enough to be put into a prep school for the SAT, I recognize that I was only able to do well on the exam due to the access to resources my family had. I received an immense amount of material that allowed me to succeed, but this material is not available to the general public for free.
Having the SAT in place has its benefits, though. Each school district across America is unique in the difficulty of classes and the measure of GPA. This means that it is practically impossible to compare a student with a 3.7 GPA at a particularly challenging high school to a student with a 5.2 GPA at a school that offers a weighted GPA and easier courses. The SAT solves this problem by providing a standardized level of comparison through the use of scores. Although the scoring is still an issue, as mentioned by the unfairness of the questions and whether the test is truly a measurement of intelligence, having a “standard” exam is beneficial in the college application process.
Just recently, College Board has announced a new format for the exam. The SAT will be shortened from 3 hours to 2, and it will be taken entirely online. The test will also incorporate “section-adaptiveness”, which means that students will have entirely different questions from one another to cater towards each individual. According to the Compass Education Group, “the algorithm chooses the appropriate difficulty for the second section” based on the students’ performance in the first”. Although this seems like an interesting approach, many questions are being raised on how exactly a student will be graded, since one student may receive a harder exam than another student.
Personally, I do not know whether this online exam is a better version of the current SAT. Having the exam online may cause further problems and issues, especially with students who live in poorer areas. Will testing centers in poor communities have access to tablets and laptops for students to be able to take the exam? If the test is “section-adaptive”, then what is the most successful way for students to study for it? Unfortunately, since this new version of the exam is not being released until 2023, there is very little information about whether it better reflects a student’s intelligence.
Overall, I believe that standardized testing is not beneficial for students. It does not measure a student’s knowledge because of the limited amount of content that is covered on the exam, and the questions are unfair. However, I do not think the exam should be entirely abolished. A junior from Potomac High School, Kirsten Amemastro, says it best: “[The test] definitely doesn’t offer the full profile of who a student is, it’s not like the missing piece. But it can make your application better. It just kind of speaks to what you can accomplish in your testing ability.” The SAT becoming test-optional at many schools is perhaps the best outcome, for students themselves can choose whether or not the exam is worth it. Choose to take it or not– it is entirely up to you.