Dumbing Down the SAT - Who Benefits?

[DGS49]

The SAT was created - or so I'm told - to allow non-privileged kids to demonstrate their intellectual bona fides as compared to privileged kids who had all the advantages of private schools, tutors, culturally enriched surroundings, and so forth. Top schools were getting all their students from private high schools, and kids from working class backgrounds were being overlooked, even though they might have been equally prepared for a top college. The SAT was a game-changer.

So who benefits when the SAT gets easier? It is still scored - essentially - on a percentile basis, so an easier test should not affect the scores in the long run, but why make it easier? Everyone gets a trophy? I don't get it.

Dumbing down the SAT won't serve students well - The Economic Times

The SAT, once a crucial college readiness indicator, faces criticism for recent format changes prioritizing ease over rigor. With test-optional policies rising, the College Board's move to shorter reading passages and calculator-allowed math aims to attract students. However, these revisions...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

 

[1srelluc]

Well, once DEI was curtailed somewhat for admissions they had to do something.

 

[Hafar1014]

The SAT was created - or so I'm told - to allow non-privileged kids to demonstrate their intellectual bona fides as compared to privileged kids who had all the advantages of private schools, tutors, culturally enriched surroundings, and so forth. Top schools were getting all their students from private high schools, and kids from working class backgrounds were being overlooked, even though they might have been equally prepared for a top college. The SAT was a game-changer.

So who benefits when the SAT gets easier? It is still scored - essentially - on a percentile basis, so an easier test should not affect the scores in the long run, but why make it easier? Everyone gets a trophy? I don't get it.

Dumbing down the SAT won't serve students well - The Economic Times

The SAT, once a crucial college readiness indicator, faces criticism for recent format changes prioritizing ease over rigor. With test-optional policies rising, the College Board's move to shorter reading passages and calculator-allowed math aims to attract students. However, these revisions...

economictimes.indiatimes.com

CRT benefits

 

[wamose]

Clinton already changed the evaluation formula in 1995, when our SAT scores were becoming an international embarrassment. He raised the grading curve, essentially giving everyone an inflated score. And of course, Clinton tried to take credit for the improvement in education.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Clinton already changed the evaluation formula in 1995, when our SAT scores were becoming an international embarrassment. He raised the grading curve, essentially giving everyone an inflated score. And of course, Clinton tried to take credit for the improvement in education.

You must have a link for that BS because the government has nothing to do with the SAT and other countries do not take that test for international comparisons.

Politely, you are full of shit with that comment.

 

[wamose]

You must have a link for that BS because the government has nothing to do with the SAT and other countries do not take that test for international comparisons.

Politely, you are full of shit with that comment.

I never said other countries took the SAT. We were becoming an embarrassment in other countries because our scores were falling. Because of that, the college board changed the curve at the urging of Bill Clinton. If you're really interested in the SAT curve being reset in 95, I'm sure a man with your intelligence will be able to Google it.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

I never said other countries took the SAT. We were becoming an embarrassment in other countries because our scores were falling. Because of that, the college board changed the curve at the urging of Bill Clinton. If you're really interested in the SAT curve being reset in 95, I'm sure a man with your intelligence will be able to Google it.

I was a teacher and administrator. I have forgotten more about the SAT than you know. The SAT is a standardized rest meaning the scores have to be "reset" by recentering the scores every few years. That has nothing to do with what you are claiming.

 

[Unkotare]

I was a teacher and administrator. I have forgotten more about the SAT than you know. The SAT is a standardized rest meaning the scores have to be "reset" by recentering the scores every few years. That has nothing to do with what you are claiming.

The SAT was first administered in 1926. It was an adaptation of the US Army Alpha Test, which had been used to check the intelligence of Army recruits.

 

[Unkotare]

About every ten years they change something about the test, to flatten out the results or placate some demographic. After a few years the same distinctions are seen again.

 

[Unkotare]

I remember when everyone was afraid of the analogies section. So they eventually took it out. Then some math word problems included people riding in cars or boats. Well, people who couldn’t afford cars or boats felt offended, so out they go! STILL some kids did better than others. An idea! Include an essay so those students could show their creativity! Ah, but the smart kids figured out how to practice and do better on that too. So now the essay is optional.

What’s next? Harrison Bergeron the smart kids?

 

[wamose]

I was a teacher and administrator. I have forgotten more about the SAT than you know. The SAT is a standardized rest meaning the scores have to be "reset" by recentering the scores every few years. That has nothing to do with what you are claiming.

I know enough not to argue with closed minded know it alls.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

I know enough not to argue with closed minded know it alls.

You are arguing with an educated and experienced mind that knows what he is talking about, and you obviously do not. How you ever taken a college class in test design? Do you even know what a standardized test is, and how it is constructed?

The answer is obviously no.

 

[wamose]

You are arguing with an educated and experienced mind that knows what he is talking about, and you obviously do not. How you ever taken a college class in test design? Do you even know what a standardized test is, and how it is constructed?

The answer is obviously no.

Actually, I have taken a few of those classes. Not quite on the level with econometrics. And how about you? It seems like you missed the class on class. But it looks like you might have done well in 'In your face', bush leaguer.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Actually, I have taken a few of those classes. Not quite on the level with econometrics. And how about you? It seems like you missed the class on class. But it looks like you might have done well in 'In your face', bush leaguer.

I have a Master's degree in education. I was a test administrator for three years, administering different tests over 4000 students over a week. I was a test proctor for the ACT for several years. How about you?

Come on, bucko, tell me where I am wrong!

So, you cannot disprove anything I have stated, so you resort to unsupported insults. What does that say about you?

 

[Unkotare]

I have a Master's degree in education. I was a test administrator for three years, administering different tests over 4000 students over a week. I was a test proctor for the ACT for several years. How about you?

Come on, bucko, tell me where I am wrong!

So, you cannot disprove anything I have stated, so you resort to unsupported insults. What does that say about you?

Nothing more tedious than proctoring standardized exams.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

Nothing more tedious than proctoring standardized exams.

Absolutely! If they only knew the horror. The best part about the ACT was that I got paid for my Saturdays mornings.

 

[Unkotare]

Absolutely! If they only knew the horror. The best part about the ACT was that I got paid for my Saturdays mornings.

They were always on Saturdays when I was in school, but now we do them during reverse half-days during the week.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

They were always on Saturdays when I was in school, but now we do them during reverse half-days during the week.

Sorry, I am not familiar with that term.

 

[Unkotare]

Absolutely! If they only knew the horror. ....

The only real activity is explaining the instructions in Spanish and writing passes to the restroom now and then. Because our school is almost 70% non-native English speaking now, the whole ESL department gets called up almost all the time.

 

[Unkotare]

Sorry, I am not familiar with that term.

So, instead of a half day when the kids go home around noon, the testing cohort arrives as usual and everyone else arrives around noon (or 11:30).