I recall the days when I was studying for the SAT (yes, I actually studied for the SAT). I remember memorizing random vocabulary and wondering if colleges really expected us to use those words. My experience in the past three years at the University has taught me that many of the words I learned for the SAT are too obscure to use for most papers. While learning words like crepuscular, which means “occurring or being active during twilight,” is never a bad thing as far as learning goes, college courses do not generally demand the same level of verbal erudition as the SAT. The exam’s current design does not accurately measure a student’s true college potential. Not knowing the definition of words like crepuscular is not indicative of collegiate success or failure. In that respect, the SAT fails to achieve its objective. Instead, it creates a false impression of one’s college future. For these reasons, I am glad the College Board is considering changing the SAT.
I have never been a proponent of the SAT. “SAT,” by the way, no longer stands for anything — and, in my opinion, the scores are as empty the acronym. I feel that SAT scores are an inadequate measure of student competence. The SAT is a more accurate measure of a student’s ability to take exams than his knowledge of math or reading. Furthermore, certain student demographics have greater chances of succeeding on the exam because they have the resources to prepare effectively. For example, Kaplan offers courses that teach students how to take the SAT in an effort to increase their scores. But such SAT prep courses are fairly expensive. The cost of a typical prep course can range from $300 to $1,000. Not every family can afford these courses, meaning that students from wealthier backgrounds have an immediate advantage.
Questions of social structure aside, the structure of the SAT itself is also flawed. College Board President David Coleman articulated some problems with the current exam, specifically with the vocabulary questions, which he says test students on rarely used words. Coleman also criticized the essay portion of the exam, saying it essentially becomes an opinion piece with little-to-no factual basis. Most students simply make up examples to support a thesis. Coleman makes valid points. Your SAT test grader is not going to know whether the example you used about being lost in New York is true or not. But I would like to extend Coleman’s criticism and argue that the essay, like the vocabulary questions, is not representative of a college atmosphere. Yes, a lot of exams in college are essay-based and have time constraints. But students typically study specific information for those exams, either from a book or what their professor discussed, and then write an essay applying and contextualizing the facts they’ve learned. They are supposed to incorporate the information while making an articulate and cohesive argument. If the SAT presented test-takers with specific information, and then students were to use the given evidence to compose an essay (similar to the essay component of some AP exams), that would be a better representation of college test-taking.
Another flaw of the written portion of the SAT is it imposes a certain (read: traditional) essay structure students are expected to follow. Those who do not follow it are less likely to do well. Such an approach prevents students from developing their own distinct style of writing. I have taken a myriad of courses at the University that have at least one essay, generally more, per semester. Professors, at least for humanities courses, usually are not as specific about essay structure. They simply want a well-developed essay arguing a specific point. There is a lot of flexibility within academic writing for which the SAT writing portion does not allow.
The SAT is a rather useless mechanism to determine how students will do during the first year of college. The fact that colleges are taking a more holistic approach in the admissions process and weighing SAT scores less heavily is indicative of the SAT’s declining relevance, at least in its current form. Some schools are even making the SAT optional. But, if the SAT is going to be used, it should at least be structured to present as accurate a picture of college academics as possible. I am glad College Board is attempting to update the test.
Fariha Kabir’s column appears Wednesdays in The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at f.kabir@cavalierdaily.com.
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