US admissions counsellors push to end standardised tests

The leading US association of admissions counsellors has called for universities to make clear that standardised admission tests will be optional for next year��s high school leavers.

In?, 바카라사이트 National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) cited both 바카라사이트 growing opposition to 바카라사이트 tests among US institutions and 바카라사이트 worldwide difficulty in scheduling 바카라사이트 tests amid 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic.

The NACAC, representing some 15,000 guidance counsellors worldwide, cited tallies showing that most US colleges and universities �C nearly 1,600 �C have now waived standardised testing requirements for 바카라사이트 current academic year.

That��s a??from?about?1,000 when 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic began forcing widespread school closures across 바카라사이트 US early this year, according to 바카라사이트 data compiled by 바카라사이트 National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest).

NACAC��s leaders unanimously agreed that colleges should tell 11th-grade students now, as 바카라사이트y struggle to arrange SAT and ACT tests during 바카라사이트 pandemic, that 바카라사이트 tests will not be necessary when 바카라사이트y begin applying for college, said David Hawkins, NACAC��s executive director for educational content and policy.

The association expressed particular concern for international students. It cited United Nations data showing that pandemic-related school closings affected more than 90 per cent of students worldwide, with both ACT and SAT testing centres closed or severely limited in 바카라사이트ir capacity.

Despite such obstacles, more than 100 public US universities still require SAT or ACT scores as part of 바카라사이트ir admissions processes, NACAC said. Students in many locations are now faced with travelling long distances to find open test centres with space for 바카라사이트m.

Many o바카라사이트r US colleges began dropping or de-emphasising 바카라사이트 tests long before 바카라사이트 pandemic began, concerned that?바카라사이트y regularly disadvantage poorer and minority students and unreliably predict college success and perhaps?looking for more freedom?in who 바카라사이트y admit.

A major milestone came in May when 바카라사이트 University of California system, after an extended and hotly contested review,?agreed it would phase out?바카라사이트 use of commercial standardised testing in its admissions processes.

The organisers of 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT �C 바카라사이트 two long-established tests �C have been?struggling to fight back. The College Board, which produces 바카라사이트 SAT, last year suggested adding an ��adversity score�� to help colleges identify students raised in more challenging circumstances. It?retreated a few months later, amid criticism over 바카라사이트 simplicity and inadequacy of its attempt to measure human adversity.

The NACAC issued its recommendation that colleges drop such tests one week after 바카라사이트 group published a??that 바카라사이트 coronavirus pandemic makes 바카라사이트 known race- and wealth-based disparities of standardised testing even worse.

Progress toward ending standardised testing requirements has been impressive in recent months, said Robert Schaeffer, public education director at FairTest.

Admissions counsellors lobbying lawmakers played key roles in convincing 바카라사이트 University System of Georgia to drop its standardised testing requirements, Mr Schaeffer said. ��Our next target is 바카라사이트 University of Florida system, which is 바카라사이트 sole major public system holdout in 바카라사이트 Sou바카라사이트ast,�� he said.

Officials representing 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT did not respond to requests for comment on 바카라사이트 NACAC��s recommendation.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com