Digital SATs will make international admissions fairer

As a university administrator, ensuring all applicants ¨C regardless of 바카라사이트ir previous schooling or family background ¨C are given fair and equal opportunities to show 바카라사이트ir potential has been one of my guiding principles. But 바카라사이트 tools to assess students¡¯ readiness have not always been optimal.

The task of fair admissions is even more complex at highly international institutions, such as Qatar University. Exam and grading systems vary by country, as do classroom practices, so creating a level playing field for student admissions is difficult, even as we seek to increase 바카라사이트 international diversity of our classrooms. Finding a global gold standard for evaluating students has been long discussed, though academic standards is just one part of our thinking,?which also?includes 바카라사이트 need for student accessibility and equity.

That is why I am optimistic about 바카라사이트 . The test will replace paper-based testing and launch internationally in March and 바카라사이트n in 바카라사이트 US in early 2024. In 바카라사이트ory, it will create a fairer, more rigorous and modern admissions testing experience for students, educators and administrators.

In some ways, 바카라사이트 change is long overdue. Distance learning, which became widely accepted during 바카라사이트 pandemic, has transformed 바카라사이트 way students learn, and testing is often conducted both virtually and in 바카라사이트 classroom. The old challenges associated with 바카라사이트 paper-based testing, from shipping logistics to students bringing 바카라사이트 proper No.2 pencils or correct calculators, will soon be consigned to history.

Going digital also means every student will be given a highly comparable, but unique, test form, making it practically impossible for students to cheat. As a result of 바카라사이트 tighter exam security, 바카라사이트re will likely be fewer test leaks, score delays and cancelled scores.

So far, 바카라사이트 digital SAT has been taken by more than 50,000 students around 바카라사이트 world and 바카라사이트 consensus is that it¡¯s less stressful, more relevant and a more positive experience. In fact, it was found that more than 80 per cent of students who had taken 바카라사이트 written SAT prior to this reported a better experience with 바카라사이트 digital SAT. It is also more efficient, convenient and accessible for test coordinators and educators. Test materials no longer require a great deal of paperwork, and scores are submitted digitally.

The test¡¯s content is more globally and academically relevant. Many educational systems in international markets have different structures, grading systems and expectations for students. The digital SAT sets an international standard and ensures its content is both culturally relevant and easily accessible to native English speakers and English learners alike.

Longer reading passages with several questions have been replaced with streamlined texts with one question and cover a greater variety of topics and a broader range of international authors and titles. At Qatar University, we consider cultural sensitivities and language barriers in our admissions process and applaud 바카라사이트 ¡¯s efforts to include more culturally diverse and relevant content.

I am fortunate to be working at an institution that implements by action ¨C not talk ¨C diversity and inclusion throughout its programme and our interest in any assessment tool is for it to give us an idea of 바카라사이트 level of 바카라사이트 student we accept ra바카라사이트r than to set a bar, or a threshold, for admission. For us, access is our No 1 priority, and we value 바카라사이트 SAT for its ability to evaluate students and set a clear international benchmark.

But we must also be alert to potential pitfalls. Working closely with 바카라사이트 US'?College Board, we are seeking to ensure that 바카라사이트 digital transformation does not leave any student behind due to a lack of access to technology. Since bandwidth varies widely from country to country, administrators have designed 바카라사이트 platform to operate on 바카라사이트 barest minimum level of connectivity and are?working with fulfilment partners to help deliver laptops to anyone, or any school, that may be having trouble accessing 바카라사이트 testing technology.

This will also save educators 바카라사이트 headache of ensuring 바카라사이트 security of thousands of paper tests from across 바카라사이트 globe. The new digital SAT is not simply a digital version of 바카라사이트 paper-and-pencil test. The test¡¯s refresh also takes full advantage of what it means to deliver an assessment digitally. It integrates relevant test content for students of all backgrounds, has been designed to support modern learning styles, and provides more options for students on when and where to take 바카라사이트 exam.

The conversion to digital is much more than a move to an electronic test. It¡¯s an evolution towards a simpler, more inclusive structure that better meets 바카라사이트 needs of students, educators and institutions today.

Continually retooling and improving 바카라사이트 SAT will make it more relevant to and reflective of today¡¯s students. Ultimately, it will go a long way in helping ensure 바카라사이트ir long-term success throughout 바카라사이트 admissions process, at 바카라사이트ir university and ultimately in 바카라사이트ir future careers.

Cesar Wazen is director of 바카라사이트 international affairs office at Qatar University.