.png)
A recent article in the New York Times focuses on the ongoing debate over the SAT exam's role in college admissions, arguing against recent movements seeking to diminish or eliminate its importance. While conceding the SAT's flaws, such as its potential to exacerbate existing inequalities, the article emphasizes its merits as a tool for evaluating student potential, particularly for underprivileged students. It contends that standardized testing, including the SAT, serves a crucial role in identifying talent and ensuring fairness in college admissions processes. The article critiques proposals to scrap the SAT, suggesting that doing so could widen disparities and impede efforts to enhance diversity in higher education.
This piece acknowledges the criticisms leveled against standardized testing, including concerns about cultural bias and the notion that it doesn't fully capture a student's abilities. However, it argues that eliminating the SAT would not address these issues effectively and might even exacerbate them. Instead, the article proposes refining the SAT to better align with educational goals and values, while simultaneously addressing issues of fairness and equity. Many universities, including renowned institutions like MIT, Princeton, Dartmouth, and others, play roles in the SAT debate. These institutions consider social mobility to be a core part of their mission. They value applicants who have overcome adversity and may prioritize factors beyond standardized test scores in their admissions decisions to promote diversity and access for underrepresented groups. While these colleges prioritize social mobility, they also maintain a commitment to excellence. This means that they strive to admit students who demonstrate high academic potential and who will contribute to the overall excellence of the institution, which could be shown by their SAT/ ACT scores.
Critics of the SAT often argue that it perpetuates privilege and disadvantages marginalized students. However, the article pushes back against this narrative, asserting that standardized testing can actually level the playing field by providing an opportunity for all students to demonstrate their abilities, regardless of their socio-economic status or educational background. Considering Dartmouth and Yale’s recent decisions to reinstate mandatory SAT score-reporting, it is important for educators to consider both the pros and cons of standardized testing in the college admissions process.
If your student is aiming high on their SAT, Veritas Education offers both small group and 1-on-1 test prep classes to prepare for those upcoming dates. Visit our course list for more information about our upcoming March SAT intensive, which will prepare students for the May date.