What, Exactly, are Standardized Tests Good for?
Happy New Year, everyone! Today we address the question: “what, exactly, are standardized tests good for?” Well, the New York Times just re-published an opinion piece from January 7, 2024 about the importance of the SAT to college admissions. The main takeaway was that “Research has increasingly shown that standardized test scores contain real information, helping to predict college grades, chances of graduation and post-college success.” In fact, the article went on to note, “Test scores are more reliable than high school grades, partly because of grade inflation in recent years.”
The article addressed the whys of this reasoning, suffice it to say, there is a huge bias among most people against standardized testing, and this bias manifested itself quite prominently in recent years with widespread support for the test-optional policies adopted by many schools during the COVID pandemic. These policies were perceived as helping in the fight against inequity; in reality, however, exactly the opposite was the case: standardized tests actually help disadvantaged groups *gain* representation on college campuses.
Once again we are reminded that just because something *seems* to be true does not mean that it is. After all, it certainly looks like the Sun goes around the Earth; and so it is with standardized testing as well. During the pandemic, there were many who predicted that standardized tests would soon be “going away,” as they were pointless things that provided zero benefit. But this is not the case!
None other than Christina Paxson, president of Brown University, has said “Standardized test scores are a much better predictor of academic success than high school grades;” this is why colleges use them. With grade inflation being a very real problem, schools need some way to identify students with the ability to thrive in a rigorous academic environment. Therefore, students who can score well on them gain opportunities they otherwise would not have. Not to mention all the other benefits of these tests, like skill carryover and scholarship opportunities. Furthermore, there are copious data (yes, data is plural) supporting the idea that, “test scores can be particularly helpful in identifying lower-income students and underrepresented minorities who will thrive.” So although standardized tests can seem pointless and annoying, in reality, they can provide students with tons of opportunities. And this is a good thing for everyone!
Once again, it is both my honor and duty to remind everyone of the upcoming SAT & ACT dates; I feel compelled to mention that the deadline for signing up for the February ACT is actually January 3, 2025—that’s only a few days away, so if you’re thinking about signing up for the February ACT, now is the time!
