Monday, August 31, 2009
Summary 1: Some Colleges Use SAT Test Scores Inappropriately!?
Mere 30-point bump on SAT can pay off big in admissions
By Mary Beth Marklein, USA TODAY
(http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-05-20-SAT-prep_N.htm?loc=interstitialskip)
Summary: The non-profit National Association for College Admission Counseling released a study based on a survey of 246 college admission officials nationwide that raised concerns about inappropriate use of SAT test scores. This study was put together to see the effect of studying for college admission exams. Various independent studies have estimated that on average a test-taker can improve their reading and math scores by 30 points with tutoring. The College Board, which owns the test, says that’s only a small bump on the 1600-point SAT. However, if everything in the student's application were the same, the study showed that 20% to 40% of officials at 130 colleges who consider the SAT scores in admissions said that the 30 points would "significantly improve a student's chances of admissions". The association did state that this problem happens in only a small number of cases and there are plans the fix them because the 30 point advantage could be attributed to measurement error. Also the association for admissions professionals cautions against using scores as a sole criterion for such decisions.
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Why exactly is this a problem? I would assume that any higher scores in any national tests (GED, ACT, SAT, etc.) would incur higher acceptance rate into colleges.
ReplyDeleteI think your summary was a little confusing to me. I read it a few times trying to understand it. It is very intriguing however.
Grade: 9/10
ReplyDeleteMistakes: Should be 20 percent and 40 percent
It is interesting how sometimes even colleges can do things that the public does not agree with. Numbers mean everything these days.
ReplyDelete