This is my ranting on the new SAT... the makers of the SAT have 'toughened up' their test for colleges to better evaluate students. However by changing the test to the new format, they shall detrcat from the original purpose of the test, which is a STANDARIZED means of evaluating students. The test makers fail to take into consideration the numerous FOREIGN students who seek opportunities in the Land of Opportunities. What I mean is... the new test has a writing section and a grammar section, and by having a writing section and a grammar section, you no longer have a STANDARDIZED test, you have a test that can become biased by the essay graders. Further more, there already exists a SAT II writing and other subject tests for colleges to call upon should they choose to test in that subject. Changing the most widely taken test to accomodate every little need will not help the situation. Instead of really discovering who has the potential of going to college, we single out minorities, who may not exercise proper grammer. As if the test weren't hard enough (very few people score perfect 1600s and the average is a 1000) The testmakers will make the math section harder, take away the analogies for a grammar section and add a writing section. This test is no longer about the basic fundamentals of math and grammar; of who has mastered them and who hasnt, it is now (more than before) a test of who has the most money to spend on writing tutors, and other math/english aids. This will only generate an even larger gap between the rich/affluent and everyone else (not merely because of money, but through the way one speaks and writes) Lets all jump on the California bandwagon... but if that fails... To those who will be taking this test in the year 2005, good luck. (thank God I've already taken them)
They said its coming out in 2005 so if you take it before than (regardless of when you graduate) it'll be the old version.
That's great! I'd probably do horrible on the new SAT writing, I can't SPELL! I doubt I'll have to take the SATII - writing. WOHOO!
Yes, the test is standardized, but to American standards. If the test were truly standardized, very few Americans would do well on it because it would have a section for every nationality in the world. Basic math skills should be constant. However, basic grammar skills are unique to the language spoke in that country. English is the language of America. Americans should know how to speak and write grammatically correct in order to go to college. And why should they make the SAT easier? It is becoming so easy for people to go to college and graduate. In order to do well, you almost have to have a master's degree. I believe that there should be more opportunities for people to go to college, but they should still have to meet certain requirements. And what foreign students are you talking about specifically? Because it seems that Asains and some Middle Eastern students do exceptionally well in American schools. I see this as more incentive for people to come to this country and learn English. (I wish I could have taken the new SAT-not that I did poorly. But I scored almost perfect on my SAT II writing! )
I'm not saying that they should make the test any easier, just they shouldnt change it... the amount of vocabulary was well enough as it is. And when i mean foreigners, i don't mean american born. I meant students from around the world who have grown up and attended high school in a different country who would like the opportunity to attend an American college... sure the language portion of the test ought to be Americanized... but wasnt it just fine as it was? vocabulary hard enough so that not everyone recieved perfects or near perfects ? Reading Comprehension to test one's ability to read english. This may be an incentive for more people to study english... what about the people who do not exercise proper english living in America today? I simply think there was no need to change the test because it was fine as it was... any additional info the college may want could have been provided for through SAT IIs... the only real reason i can see is the ETS (makers of the SAT) making more money by forcing those test prep centers to have to throw out the old tests and order/buy the new ones. But thats my ranting.
around here it seems like the focus is more on the ACT than the SAT. The testing center will have like 15 rooms packed for the ACT, but the SAT is lucky to fill up one room....
The SAT is easy enough as it is....that's why I think it's so pathetic many athletes are disqualified by the NCAA for a season for not meeting their SAT (an 880, I believe) or ACT score requirements. The changes are all for the better - no one uses analogies anymore, not like they do on the SAT. Sure, you may have to study for this test, but that's not any different than for any other test in school/life. The writing section is something that should've been implemented a long time ago. A lot of people can't even get to college and know how to write a proper sentence these days, yet alone a coherent paragraph. And the math on the test was a joke - essentially middle school level. That's the first thing they should've toughened about 25 years ago. Some people will say - "well, I'm not a math person." Problem is, some people aren't "english people" either, so it should all even out in the end with the best of the group coming to the top, as always. The SAT has always had flaws - it's not really standardized nor is it the perfect test. Is the new format a cure-all? Of course not. But it is an improvement.
yes, they did lax the scoring of the SAT in 1996 I think... I took it before and after, but got the same score... so really, i guess I did worse? but truthfully, the SAT is a joke... its got to be the easiest standardized test out there. California schools were smart to decide (not sure if this is 100% true yet) to quit using it as an entrance factor... and the math section, are you kidding me? nothing is easier.
Don't worry Drew, you can take your SAT your junior year. That's what I did this year. It's definitely a lot easier that way, so you can just focus on applying to college during your senior year.
Couple of things ... The California decision to move away from the SAT was the incident that spurred the change to the SAT. They changed it to what California schools were looking for in the hopes of keeping them involved (lots of money there). The SAT becoming easier or harder is really irrelevant since everyone is scaled. The new test might focus on something a little different - maybe analytical ability instead of vocabulary, or something like that - but that's neither a good or bad thing. It's just different. The writing section is optional for schools. Most schools, at least initially, are unlikely to use it because that would be a nightmare for the admissions people (at least at larger schools). Foreign students are generally judged by a different standard because it's understood that their English skills are going to be different / less developed.
My main problem with it is they should have a natural science and social sience/sgeneral history component like the ACT. The problem with the ACT however is the overall test isn't hard enough IMO. Why not test? math language writing science history/social science 2nd language (if applicable--Cal is talking about this) logic I don't get the SAT's sole emphasis on the first 2 and now first 3 in evaluating college aptitude when it is obvious others are important (why these other areas are part of the LSAT, MCAT, GRE, and other standardized tests). Plus the more they make the test more broad based and diversified--the harder it would be to study specifically for the test without acquiring more general knowledge. I guess one could argue now the AP tests and such do this, but then these are often not a part of the initial admissions decisions at large universities.
For those of you fretting over the SAT's as if they mean squat other than admission into a college, stop fretting. After you're in college, nobody gives a damn what you made on your SAT's. Do well enough to get into the college of your choice, then work from there. SAT scores aren't necessarily any indication of how you'll do in the workforce or in college. That being said, I think some of your grammar and spelling skills are pathetic.
Azadre I just got through all the college apps this past year. Many if not most of the top schools require SAT II's. Rice requires the SAT II writing test specifically along with some other ones (i'm positive they require SAT II's and I'm pretty sure the writing one specifically was required by rice)....just telling you this because of the other post concerning rice...
If that's so, LET IT BE KNOWN! AZADRE WILL BE THE BEST SPELLER ON THIS BOARD, AND HE WILL USE PERFECT GRAMMAR, BEFORE HE TAKES HIS SAT-II Writing!
Azadre.. good luck.. but dont worry the writing test is not that horrid... Let it be known that the grammar usage of people on this board does not relect upon their actual inteligence level. As horrid as my spelling and grammar is on this board at times, I really can write! I can even handle SAT II writing tests! Maybe I should start writing gramatically correct at all times to help me prepare for college in the fall. Maybe, maybe no
Does anybody think that this board helps us to develop our communication skills? I have probably written as much on here as I did all though high school.
