Red Flag! SAT scores drop. Is it the new test or is it a trend?
Students seem to have the same class rank, continue to take college-prep classes, and have the same grade point averages but their SAT scores have dropped.
Mary Beth Marklein of USA Today writes that The College Board has been plagued with test scoring scandals recently but this is not linked to the errors. This is an overall drop in scores.
The new SAT was implimented this year with an additional essay writing component. This added 45 minutes to the test. Instead of the SAT test being 3 hours long, it is now 3 hours and 45 minutes long. Are the scores dropping due to physical fatique? Is it the length or the changes in the test? And, should there be so much emphasis on one test?
A non-profit organization, FairTest, criticizes the emphasis on testing. Visit FairTest and learn which colleges do not demand ACT and SAT testing for admission. So many students know the information and could demonstrate their understanding if they were allowed to share their knowledge in a vehicle other than a standardized test. More on standardized testing - ACT -Reading Scores Down - Again.
Related articles: The SAT and Admissions by Lynn Byrne, He'll Cheat For You on SAT's.
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
