Behind the SAT-Optional Movement: Context and Controversy
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| Title: | Behind the SAT-Optional Movement: Context and Controversy |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Epstein, Jonathan P. |
| Source: | Journal of College Admission. Sum 2009 (204):8-19. |
| Availability: | National Association for College Admission Counseling. 1631 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2818. Tel: 800-822-6285; Tel: 703-836-2222; Fax: 703-836-8015; e-mail: info@nacac.com; Web site: http://www.nacacnet.org |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2009 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Descriptive |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | College Entrance Examinations, College Admission, Admission Criteria, Advocacy, Access to Education, Selective Admission, Scoring, Case Studies, Criticism |
| Geographic Terms: | California, Maine, Rhode Island |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | SAT (College Admission Test) |
| ISSN: | 0734-6670 |
| Abstract: | The advent of the modern form of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), brought to bear by the combination of the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and Harvard's former president James Bryant Conant (Lemann 1999), was designed to promote the recognition of talent and intellect, wherever they may be found. Their aim was to provide greater educational access for academically gifted and accomplished students, requiring students at elite institutions to prove their worthiness by performance rather than merely by pedigree. Within a few short years, it began to clarify the distinction between social and intellectual elite. During the 1950s, use of the SAT grew rapidly. When the University of California adopted the exam in 1968, its expansion across the nation was solidified. In 1990, from a desire to move away from the idea that the test measures innate ability, its intent mid-century, the SAT changed its acronym to the Scholastic Assessment Test. This move marked a formal break from its early 1920s precursors that were forms of IQ tests. Then, faced with challenges to the claim that it truly measured achievement, in 1994 it removed the acronym entirely, keeping only the initials SAT. This article discusses the following: (1) how SAT is used in the present times; (2) the dawning and dominance of the importance of scoring; (3) the threat of SAT-optional movement; (4) the critiques within higher education of SAT-optional policies; and (5) the advocacy efforts made by Fair Test: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing in encouraging schools to adopt SAT-optional policies. A possible solution that addresses some major concerns about the SAT while utilizing its major strengths is also discussed. |
| Abstractor: | ERIC |
| Number of References: | 41 |
| Entry Date: | 2009 |
| Accession Number: | EJ856358 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Behind the SAT-Optional Movement: Context and Controversy – Name: Language Label: Language Group: Lang Data: English – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Epstein%2C+Jonathan+P%2E%22">Epstein, Jonathan P.</searchLink> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+College+Admission%22"><i>Journal of College Admission</i></searchLink>. Sum 2009 (204):8-19. – Name: Avail Label: Availability Group: Avail Data: National Association for College Admission Counseling. 1631 Prince Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-2818. Tel: 800-822-6285; Tel: 703-836-2222; Fax: 703-836-8015; e-mail: info@nacac.com; Web site: http://www.nacacnet.org – Name: PeerReviewed Label: Peer Reviewed Group: SrcInfo Data: Y – Name: Pages Label: Page Count Group: Src Data: 12 – Name: DatePubCY Label: Publication Date Group: Date Data: 2009 – Name: TypeDocument Label: Document Type Group: TypDoc Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Descriptive – Name: Audience Label: Education Level Group: Audnce Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Descriptors Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Entrance+Examinations%22">College Entrance Examinations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Admission%22">College Admission</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Admission+Criteria%22">Admission Criteria</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Advocacy%22">Advocacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Access+to+Education%22">Access to Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Selective+Admission%22">Selective Admission</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scoring%22">Scoring</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Case+Studies%22">Case Studies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Criticism%22">Criticism</searchLink> – Name: Subject Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22California%22">California</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maine%22">Maine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rhode+Island%22">Rhode Island</searchLink> – Name: SubjectThesaurus Label: Assessment and Survey Identifiers Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SU" term="%22SAT+%28College+Admission+Test%29%22">SAT (College Admission Test)</searchLink> – Name: ISSN Label: ISSN Group: ISSN Data: 0734-6670 – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: The advent of the modern form of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), brought to bear by the combination of the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and Harvard's former president James Bryant Conant (Lemann 1999), was designed to promote the recognition of talent and intellect, wherever they may be found. Their aim was to provide greater educational access for academically gifted and accomplished students, requiring students at elite institutions to prove their worthiness by performance rather than merely by pedigree. Within a few short years, it began to clarify the distinction between social and intellectual elite. During the 1950s, use of the SAT grew rapidly. When the University of California adopted the exam in 1968, its expansion across the nation was solidified. In 1990, from a desire to move away from the idea that the test measures innate ability, its intent mid-century, the SAT changed its acronym to the Scholastic Assessment Test. This move marked a formal break from its early 1920s precursors that were forms of IQ tests. Then, faced with challenges to the claim that it truly measured achievement, in 1994 it removed the acronym entirely, keeping only the initials SAT. This article discusses the following: (1) how SAT is used in the present times; (2) the dawning and dominance of the importance of scoring; (3) the threat of SAT-optional movement; (4) the critiques within higher education of SAT-optional policies; and (5) the advocacy efforts made by Fair Test: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing in encouraging schools to adopt SAT-optional policies. A possible solution that addresses some major concerns about the SAT while utilizing its major strengths is also discussed. – Name: AbstractInfo Label: Abstractor Group: Ab Data: ERIC – Name: Ref Label: Number of References Group: RefInfo Data: 41 – Name: DateEntry Label: Entry Date Group: Date Data: 2009 – Name: AN Label: Accession Number Group: ID Data: EJ856358 |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 12 StartPage: 8 Subjects: – SubjectFull: College Entrance Examinations Type: general – SubjectFull: College Admission Type: general – SubjectFull: Admission Criteria Type: general – SubjectFull: Advocacy Type: general – SubjectFull: Access to Education Type: general – SubjectFull: Selective Admission Type: general – SubjectFull: Scoring Type: general – SubjectFull: Case Studies Type: general – SubjectFull: Criticism Type: general – SubjectFull: California Type: general – SubjectFull: Maine Type: general – SubjectFull: Rhode Island Type: general – SubjectFull: SAT (College Admission Test) Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Behind the SAT-Optional Movement: Context and Controversy Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Epstein, Jonathan P. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 01 Type: published Y: 2009 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0734-6670 Numbering: – Type: issue Value: 204 Titles: – TitleFull: Journal of College Admission Type: main |
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