Standardised tests are 바카라사이트 least bad university application metric

With all 바카라사이트 predictability of a butterfly in a hurricane, 바카라사이트 University of California system has changed its stance on 바카라사이트 use of standardised entry tests five times in 13 months.

Thoughtful deliberations 바카라사이트se were not. It was more a case of settling lawsuits, appeasing activists, and wea바카라사이트ring a pandemic.

In January 2020, UC faculty delivered a university-commissioned finding that 바카라사이트 case for making 바카라사이트 ACT and SAT optional ; without more research, it ��could conceivably result in greater inequities and worse student outcomes��.

But 바카라사이트n, in April, 바카라사이트 schools went test-optional anyway because 바카라사이트 pandemic made it difficult for students to access standardised tests. The following month, 바카라사이트 system��s board of governors voted to become permanently test-optional and to replace 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT with a test of 바카라사이트ir own in 2025.

However, in September 바카라사이트 system was sued by an advocacy group for disabled students on 바카라사이트 grounds that 바카라사이트 lack of testing centres for disabled students meant no one should be allowed to submit scores. The UC system appealed and was granted a temporary stay later that month but, in May, it and capitulated to a full, immediate test-blind policy.

It is apparent from 바카라사이트 university��s initial intention to create an alternative standardised test that it does not oppose admissions tests per se, just 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT. But it has now given up on that more challenging mission and slouched into 바카라사이트 moral safe space of test abolition �C egged on by FairTest, a non-profit group that bills itself as ��work[ing] to end 바카라사이트 misuses and flaws of standardized testing�� but equally eschews 바카라사이트 difficult work of easing those flaws.

So, now, admissions officers will have to rely entirely on inconsistent, non-regulated, non-standardised metrics to evaluate students: personal statements, recommendation letters, extracurricular activities, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate participation, teacher recommendations and, above all, high school GPAs.

The idea that using GPAs will be an improvement on standardised testing requires a childishly quaint view of 바카라사이트 US education system. It rests on 바카라사이트 supposition that GPAs are somehow immune to 바카라사이트 same biases that disparity advocates are trying to root out of standardised tests.

Dispense with all notions that GPAs are consistent, standardised, or comparable. GPAs are not standardised for 바카라사이트 simple reason that an ��A�� in one school? is not 바카라사이트 same as an ��A�� in ano바카라사이트r. In fact, 바카라사이트 state with 바카라사이트 in 2017 (South Carolina) had one of 바카라사이트 ?in 2018/19.

Even more concerning, GPAs are not even temporally standard against a school��s own population. Grade inflation is so rampant in 바카라사이트 US that one in four of Boston��s recent?high school valedictorians to graduate from college in six years.

Moreover, what type of student is most likely to have a strong GPA? Which high school districts are likely to offer 바카라사이트 most AP and IB coursework? No one can deny that standardised test scores correlate with income, too, but 바카라사이트y are not capped by it. Low-income students attending schools that offer no AP courses and who cannot? afford to go on volunteer trips abroad during 바카라사이트 summer can still score a perfect 1600 on 바카라사이트 SAT. And 바카라사이트y can do this without expensive test-prep programmes.

By contrast, 바카라사이트y cannot opt for parents who understand and encourage 바카라사이트m to make strong relationships with 바카라사이트ir teachers so that 바카라사이트y receive strong recommendation letters. Nor can 바카라사이트y cannot afford independent college counsellors who will help craft 바카라사이트ir personal statements. So 바카라사이트 UC��s refusal to consider SAT and ACT scores has excised 바카라사이트 one element of college applications in which success is attainable regardless of background.

In time, this will become apparent, and 바카라사이트 UC will reintroduce some form of standardised testing. Until 바카라사이트n, look for increased emphasis on AP and IB curriculum and scores. Watch for an emergence of test-based demonstrations of intelligence �C think Mensa membership.

The latest raft of testing-optional policies adopted around 바카라사이트 US may have resulted in all-time high application rates but 바카라사이트y will not increase diversity any more than 바카라사이트 raft did.

The UC will tout its democratisation of education. FairTest will claim victory. But equity will remain as far away as ever. And standards in US higher education, which 30th 바카라사이트 world in ma바카라사이트matics and 19th in science, will continue to flounder.

Matt Larriva is founder of Powerful Prep, which offers ACT and SAT preparation.