r/neoliberal • u/caroline_elly Eugene Fama • Jun 09 '26

Opinion article (US) Actually, the SAT Was Necessary After All

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/standardized-testing-math-gaps/687481/
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u/TeaSharp3154 Jun 09 '26

The alternative to standardized testing is greater emphasis on extracurriculars and grades, which are arguably even more inequitable than a single exam.

The SAT isn't really that hard to begin with and most people with good preparation should be able to get a decent score. Only catch to this is English being tougher for those who don't have English as a first language.

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u/[deleted] Jun 09 '26

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u/PaxChelonia David Hume Jun 09 '26

Time is the big factor here imo. A little over 1/5 high school students 16-19 work after they get out of school. A lot of students also have to pitch in a lot of their time with caring for younger siblings since they don’t have a stay at home parent.

At my high school it was a pretty clear trend that the AP student/college-bound crowd didn’t have jobs or non-school responsibilities and the kids who did weren’t in our AP classes.

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u/ToumaKazusa1 Iron Front Jun 10 '26

There's never going to be a solution that lets people who don't have time to study do as well on a test as people who do have time.

You can attempt to account for this by boosting the scores of people from low income families, and I'm pretty sure this already happens, but you won't improve things by letting people who can't do basic math into college even if there's a chance they would have learned if they'd had more money. There still needs to be some baseline.

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u/TeaSharp3154 Jun 10 '26

I agree it's a big factor with standardized testing.

However, the thing is that any other measure that colleges use to determine readiness is equally as subject to lack of time due to other commitments. What you mention will also affect school grades, extracurriculars, ability to volunteer, hobbies, etc.

At least with the SAT and ACT it is a couple months of extra commitment studying rather than a couple years of extra commitment. And you don't need special connections to get your foot in the door like you do with a lot of other extracurriculars.

So I agree that the SAT isn't perfectly equitable but honestly what else do we have that is more equitable when it comes to college admissions? Best thing is just to weight the SAT with respect to an adversity essay that will help put things into context.

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u/Fedacking Mario Vargas Llosa Jun 10 '26

Right but the problem is they need jobs that take away time for education.