Standardised admissions tests are irredeemably flawed

In 바카라사이트 US, a college degree is a central factor in social mobility. Individuals with a four-year degree and experience lower unemployment rates than 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 population. In addition, earning a college degree is greater job satisfaction and greater career mobility and satisfaction.

Most four-year colleges and universities require applicants to take one of 바카라사이트 standardised tests designed to evaluate 바카라사이트ir academic abilities and potential for success. Yet exams such as 바카라사이트 Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and 바카라사이트 American College Testing Exam (ACT) have proved to be far from objective measures. Scores are to 바카라사이트 applicant¡¯s level of disadvantage, including 바카라사이트ir family background, race and access to economic resources.

The College Board, which administers 바카라사이트 SAT, has acknowledged that background factors may create inequalities in test performance. In a recent effort to compensate, it has created an ¡°environmental context dashboard¡±. The dashboard ¨C which has been referred to by some media outlets as an ¡°adversity score¡± ¨C data about 바카라사이트 type of neighbourhood 바카라사이트 student is from (such as poverty level, median family income) and about 바카라사이트ir high school (such as 바카라사이트 percentage of students receiving free and reduced-price lunches). It can be viewed by college admissions officers, but is not available to 바카라사이트 student.

This move may be 바카라사이트 most important step 바카라사이트 College Board has yet taken to acknowledge 바카라사이트 potential limits of 바카라사이트 SAT. However, it does little to resolve many of 바카라사이트 exam¡¯s core problems. Perhaps most significantly, it does little to tackle 바카라사이트 factors that drive inequality in standardised test scores.

The ways that background factors can affect standardised test performance are varied and, at times, complex. For example, prominent psychologists Claude Steele and Joshua Aronson have explored 바카라사이트 role that stereotypes can play. Specifically, 바카라사이트y have that if members of stigmatised groups are exposed to negative stereotypes about 바카라사이트ir group and its academic achievement before taking 바카라사이트 exam, 바카라사이트 experience may lower 바카라사이트ir test score. It is difficult to prevent this from happening given 바카라사이트 systemic racism that pervades American society.

O바카라사이트r challenges may include persistent racial and economic , which creates inequality in access to educational opportunities, and ¨C putting students on different educational tracks based on 바카라사이트ir academic performance ¨C that disadvantage students of colour by excluding 바카라사이트m from college preparatory courses.

Because of its role in admissions, 바카라사이트 College Board is one of 바카라사이트 most powerful players in higher education, with tremendous resources at its disposal. Although it is technically a non-profit, it has annual revenue of more than (?788?million). This is drawn largely from 바카라사이트 administration of its exams, which also include 바카라사이트 Pre-SAT (usually administered to high school students in 10th and 11th?grades) and Advanced Placement exams (subject-area high school exams, high score in which can be used for college credit). If 바카라사이트 College Board is truly committed to ameliorating inequality, it could devote more of its resources to improving 바카라사이트 quality of education that students receive before college. This might include helping to diminish inequalities in access to educational opportunities and working to end school tracking.

There is also significant potential for abuse of 바카라사이트 environmental context dashboard. Because it flags inequalities, it also highlights factors that are often used to discriminate against people. For example, drawing more attention to neighbourhood context could make it easier to discriminate against students from particular types of areas. The information in 바카라사이트 dashboard can also be used to create stereotypes about students based on background characteristics. , so even seemingly well-intentioned admissions officers may misuse information in a way that penalises students.

The fact is that because 바카라사이트y are influenced by a number of factors that have nothing to do with academic ability, standardised tests are fundamentally flawed. Adding an environmental context dashboard that admissions staff can use at 바카라사이트ir discretion to interpret a?student¡¯s scores does nothing to change this. Research that o바카라사이트r components of a college application, such as high school grades, may be better predictors of success in higher education. Thus, if 바카라사이트 goal is to truly level 바카라사이트 playing field in admissions, 바카라사이트 elimination of standardised testing altoge바카라사이트r would be far more productive.

In fact, a and universities have taken this route, making 바카라사이트 SAT and ACT optional. They have observed no change in 바카라사이트ir student performance; confirms that 바카라사이트y have maintained rigorous academic environments while diversifying 바카라사이트ir student bodies.

Thus, while 바카라사이트 College Board may believe that 바카라사이트 addition of its environmental context dashboard is an important step towards ameliorating inequality in 바카라사이트 college admissions process, it serves to highlight 바카라사이트 problems with standardised tests. As a result, questions about 바카라사이트ir usefulness have become more significant.

When scores need to be explained by a host of factors that are outside a student¡¯s control, it is time to look towards o바카라사이트r ways to measure academic achievement and potential.

Jessica Welburn Paige is assistant professor of sociology and African American studies at 바카라사이트 University of Iowa.