SAT Scores are a No-Brainer
NEIRAD enilno edition
When the results came out for the average SAT scores in Connecticut, it was great news to see Darien ranked number two in the state, second only to that pesky New Canaan. Some may attribute this success to the amount of preparation in the Darien school system, but studies show it has more to do with money, money, and money.
You need money for SAT prep classes, and tutors, and prep books, and paying to take the SAT more than once, and anything else that parents can find that could help their child excel on the exam. One of the many options for SAT tutoring in Darien is the Sylvan Learning Center. Here all test prep tutoring is priced $70 per hour, with a $140 charge for the PSAT/SAT evaluation test.
As money is a major factor in success on the exam, it makes sense that the wealthiest towns in Connecticut had the best scores. If this is the case, how can the SAT scores be an accurate representation of a student’s academic ability for colleges?
Darien’s average SAT score for the Reading section of the test was 573, while Writing was 596, and Math was 611. Our scores were just short of New Canaan’s, with scores of 585, 601, and 610 respectively.
All of these numbers are respectable when compared to those of other schools. Norwalk High School, for example, had scores of 485 for Reading, 483 for Math, and 493 for Writing. This school is one that is certainly not destitute, but historically not as wealthy as Darien or New Canaan. Compare these scores to one of the not-so-wealthy towns in Connecticut, such as Bridgeport. Harding High School had scores of Reading: 373, Writing: 364, and Math: 365.
Mr. Ribeiro, Director of Guidance at DHS, said, “Even though I do think that SAT or ACT scores have a valuable place in the college admission process, I do think that some schools may place too much of an emphasis on the one test score. When working with families the one area that seems to cause the most stress is testing. Schools moving to test optional can only decrease this stress, which is obviously a good thing.”
When looking at the drastic differences between the scores of these schools, in comparison with their financial backgrounds, it seems like a totally inaccurate gauge for colleges to use these scores to judge potential students. Fortunately, it is apparent that colleges are beginning to realize this factor as well. This (along with many other reasons) is why there are a growing number of SAT-optional colleges.
Ribeiro added, “We are definitely seeing more and more schools who are turning to test optional. This is because schools are realizing that a student's overall transcript is much more indicative of college success versus a standardized test.”
According to FairTest.org, “The number of test-optional institutions in the U.S. has soared past the 830 mark, as five more schools – Agnes Scott, Assumption, Sacred Heart, SUNY Pottsdam, and Washington & Jefferson – have announced they are dropping ACT/SAT requirements. About one-third of all accredited colleges and universities in the country now do not require all or many applicants to submit test scores before admissions decisions are made.”
These colleges did extensive studies and calculations to see if SAT scores accurately reflected students’ performances once they came to college. In an interview with FairTest.org, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Agnes Scott College Jim Wiseman explained, “We find that for many of our students, standardized test scores aren’t the best predictors of success... We want high school students to focus on their classes and personal growth, not on their test-taking ability.”
Senior Alice Corrigan voiced her opinion on the matter, saying, “The SAT was definitely easier than the ACT,” and that she wishes colleges put more emphasis on the SAT. “I am applying to test-optional colleges, but this does not influence whether or not I want to go there because my scores for both the SAT and ACT were pretty good and relatively the same.” It is not likely that this opinion would be shared by a student at Harding High School.
The ever-growing list of test-optional colleges means that students at DHS and all over the nation can breathe a sigh of relief, and their parents can keep the ridiculous amount of money they spend on SATs in their pockets, perhaps to pay for your college later on.
