Since the modern SAT it strictly is based on scholastic knowledge, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, who are more likely to be minority students, are at a disadvantage. It is slanted towards the privileged students-"the Wealth Test ". Wealthier parents can provide private tutoring, classes and study materials and so can wealthier school districts. Those students really do benefit a great deal from SAT preparation. So technically, the minorities are more likely to score less than the wealthy which prevent them from progressing to the next grade level or even lead to teacher firings. Prior to all these scenarios, the tests fail to be fair and objective and their use promotes a narrow curriculum and "teaching to the test " syndrome. Again, it's the colleges and America as a whole that fail to produce innovators and critical thinkers.
There are several accusations on SAT being culturally biased, which I personally think is valid. I am not a Native-English speaker, nor have I been living in United States all my life, and there was a question regarding rugby where the student was essentially required to know the terminologies of a rugby game. How can someone like me who has never played rugby before nor watched a full rugby game possibly supposed to answer that question? The test makers don't pay attention to the fact that there might be students unaware about the American culture taking the test. English Language Learners tend to fall in the same category. Standardized tests are unfair and discriminatory against non-English speakers and students with special needs. .
English language learners take tests in English before they have mastered the language. Special education students take the same tests as other students, receiving only a few of the accommodations usually provided to them as part of their educational plans. Now, how is that fair testing? Studies state that ELL students do not perform as great as the native speakers on the Critical reading and Writing part of the test.