The SAT: Keep it or Leave it?

According to the College Board, in 2009 more than 1.5 million students took the SAT. At this point in time, the SAT has been recognized as a standardized test that was designed to tell how well a student is prepared for college. With this is mind it has been a major factor in college admissions. However, Is this test really a true representation of intelligence and preparedness for higher education?

College students have already past the point in their life where all they thought about was the dreaded SAT. Now there is countless arguments that the system in place is just not fair. To prepare for this test, students need countless hours of studying. Many seek out outside help, such as tutoring or extended classes that help them prepare for the test. Yet, what if a family can not afford extra help? A student can score lower on the test because he did not have the same resources available to him like others. Principal Shawn Toler agrees when he notes that the test is unfair for students, such as inner city minorities, who simply cannot afford test preparation. The test is also noted to be biased against students who's first language might not be english. Even if there was no chance of the system being unfair, it is difficult to understand how just one test can decide success in higher education.

Colleges and Universities are responding to this debate. For example, many schools have not even considered including the writing section of the SAT in their admissions requirements. Also, every year there continue to be more and more schools that do not even require standardized testing to admit students. One website, www.fairtest.org, has kept a running list of colleges and universities that are on their side. The schools listed do not used standardized tests as a means of admission into their Bachelor Degree programs. Only time will tell if the SAT can keep its status that it has held since its inception.