The Pros And Cons Of SAT Testing

According to the College Board, the SAT or the Scholastic Aptitude Test is standardized entrance exam for colleges in the United States. The SAT measures a student’s general reasoning skills, vocabulary and mathematical comprehension. As a nation, the SAT is a strong determinant in college admittance and placement. College admission personnel should place less emphasis on SAT scores because certain factors can skew test results, SATs do not measure true intelligence, and better indicators of academic ability can be utilized.

Have you ever heard the saying “If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”? This same principal applies for standardized test. Educators commit to the idea that these tests can measure an individual’s intelligence. However, this assessment simply requires students to recall information therefore inherently incapable of truly measuring understanding. In addition these exams do not acknowledge …show more content…
Even in the most secure testing environments, there are still a number of factors that can alter test results. Any difference between two students, even if it’s beyond a student’s control, may bias test results. Studies have shown that scores of minorities tend to be lower than that of Caucasian students. This phenomenon is closely related to economic/social disadvantages, rather than academic influences. Family income also throws off the fairness of the tests. Unlike the IQ test which actually measures intelligence, students can take coaching lessons on the SAT in order to raise their SAT score. If a student from a higher socioeconomic status can afford SAT prep classes while a low-income student cannot, the low-income student is already at a disadvantage. The test is designed to oppress low-income, racial-minority, and female groups, it can never guarantee equal