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SAT Bias

            The SAT I exam can be proven to be inadequate at measuring a student's academic ability in college. Over the past few years there has been a growing controversy about the SAT I exam in America. The SAT I test is very broad and does not look at what students have learned specifically in the subjects they were taught from grades one through twelve. Therefore, there is no specific way to study for the SAT I exam. The SAT I exam can also be shown to be unfair towards lower income families. This past year the SAT I exam was revamped. However, is this the answer? Could the answer be abolishing the SAT I totally and possibly looking more at the SAT II subject test? Colleges could also look at the grades and the essays of the applying students to make their decision on whether they are fit for the school. .
             How can one judge a student's academic ability based on one single test over the grades that he/she has worked so hard for the previous twelve years? Many people, colleges, and college administrations are now considering this question. "Those in favor of abolishing the test have said that the SAT tests too broadly and thus overlooks students" specific studies."(Loevner) The SAT I exam may be the most important test a student takes in his/her life. There are many questions concerning the credibility of the SAT I exam. The person taking the SAT I exam may have had a bad previous night; therefore, when they take the test it does not show their true academic ability. Some people get nervous before big tests. Some people are just bad at that type of test. .
             Another possible concern regarding the SAT I exam is that it is unfair toward lower income families. There are many programs offered to help students to learn how to take the test. These programs are expensive. This is what makes it unfair toward lower income families. The students who can afford these programs are will most likely score higher on the SAT I exam.


Essays Related to SAT Bias

1. SAT

The Educational Testing Service (ETS) adopted the SAT I back in 1944. ... This paper will attempt to explain the history and make-up of the SAT I, as it is compared to the recent day SAT I Test. ... The history of the SAT has origins that date back to the First World War. ... Later in 1944, ETS was chartered and the SAT was en route to becoming the standard college admissions tool for universities across the nation, (The Big Test: SAT I, p.1). ... Furthermore, because of these inconsistencies concerning test scores among gender racial groups, the content of the SAT I should be altered so that...

  • Word Count: 1715
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. SAT'S

A major player in the SATs is the test prep business. This business began even before the birth of the SATs themselves. ... This fact creates a socioecomic bias. ... An additional factor that plays into this bias is the issue of score-choice and the amount of times a student takes the test, both of which must be paid for each time. ... In light of the previously mentioned problems that have risen because of the SATs, some college administrators have considered eliminating the SATs. ...

  • Word Count: 1650
  • Approx Pages: 7

3. The SATs: Out of Touch

The SAT test is the oldest and most widely used college entrance exam. ... Using the SATs as a criterion for college admission should be optional because it is inherently biased and focuses on a few skills rather than general knowledge and ability. ... This disproportionately impacts minority students to whom the test is biased. ... The SAT score simply measures your ability to take the SAT test, theoretically, a skill that can be learned through coaching class. ... As it is now, there is too much emphasis placed on SAT scores. ...

  • Word Count: 914
  • Approx Pages: 4

4. Argumentation Paper: SAT

Students who take the SAT have scores that ranging from 200 to 1600. ... The SAT has unequal results tied to unequal education because of race, class and gender. ... The SAT is flawed by decision-making, experience, and money. ... In addition, the student with a 1200 SAT might be viewed as more worthy of admission than a student with a 900 on the SAT. But we all know that SAT preparation courses can boost one's SAT by 200 or more points i.e. one student who recently told me that his scores went from 790 to 1190 with coaching, and therefore our use of the SAT in the decision making pro...

  • Word Count: 736
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

5. SAT controversy

Today's SAT simply determines acquired knowledge and largely ignores raw intelligence. ... Some feel that the SAT gives disadvantaged students the opportunity to prove themselves. ... This is what constitutes the SAT as a biased test. There is a notably large gap of performance between different groups on the SAT. ... The SAT is known to favor students of white origin. ...

  • Word Count: 1473
  • Approx Pages: 6

6. SAT Tests: Unfair

First, standardized tests are socio-economically, racially, and sexually biased and therefore have poor predictive validity. ... First, standardized tests are socio-economically, racially, and sexually biased and therefore have poor predictive validity. ... "The SAT is very effective at eliminating academically promising minorities (and low-income) students who apply with strong academic records but relatively low SAT scores" (FairTest 4). "The SAT consistently underpredicts the performance of females in college and overpredicts the performance of males" (FairTest 3). ... First, standardiz...

  • Word Count: 1014
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

7. The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SATs)

." - Conan O'Brien on Taking the SATs. The SATs that claim to predict a student's college success are biased putting the non-native English speakers at a disadvantage. ... Because it's the SAT season! ... There are several accusations on SAT being culturally biased, which I personally think is valid. ... Being rooted with all sorts of biases SAT scores fail as a fair and reliable predictor of college success and thus should not be overvalued. ...

  • Word Count: 1239
  • Approx Pages: 5

8. The SAT

When I took the SAT the whole first floor of the school was open to the SAT exam. ... The SAT makes millions of dollars each time it is given. "I think the SAT should be canned. ... But I really found the SAT to be a waste of my money and time", said Ben Levine, a High School junior who recently took the SAT exam. Many people that I have asked about the exam believed that it was a biased exam that was geared towards rich people who can afford private tutoring or private school. ...

  • Word Count: 950
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Discrimination at its Worst

The article goes on to say: In 1997 the average grade point average for a rejected white student was 3.66 with an average SAT score of 1142. The average grade point average for an accepted black student 3.44 with a 1030 SAT score. ... In order to cease and desist affirmative action we as Americans need to come together and stop this biased practice. ...

  • Word Count: 790
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

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