02-13-2010, 03:49 PM
My main qualm with the SATs is that it offers an insanely expensive official course PROVEN to raise a students grade by about 50 points per subject. As someone mentioned before, this is an example of making kids better SAT takers, rather than actually improving their mathematical or verbal prowess.
Also, this creates an inaccurate curve to base scores on. For instance, if Joe receives a 640 in critical reading, and Mike receives a 610, a college considering both Joe and Mike would (if they are roughly equal students in all other things considered) prefer Joe, because he is the better reader, according to to the duly reliable SATs.
NOW, let us say our two boys take the SATs again. On average, a student retaking the SAT usually improves his overall score by a modest amount, because he is more familiar with the exam itself. So, we'll presume that Joe and Mike both gain twenty points from the "comfort factor". Joe's score should still be greater, arriving at a grand total of 660. However, Mike has a trick up his sleeve. He had the money to take the 500 dollar KAPLAN course, which inflated his score by fifity and made him APPEAR to be a better reader than he actually is. Now, Mike, with the "comfort" factor, AND the KAPLAN course, arrives at total of 680. Colleges shall see Mike as the better reader.
In sum....Money=Better Scores. I've a slew of other complaints, but I'll spare you all.
Plus....IT'S FOUR HOURS LONG. ;P. Props to the man that kept his head the entire time.
Also, this creates an inaccurate curve to base scores on. For instance, if Joe receives a 640 in critical reading, and Mike receives a 610, a college considering both Joe and Mike would (if they are roughly equal students in all other things considered) prefer Joe, because he is the better reader, according to to the duly reliable SATs.
NOW, let us say our two boys take the SATs again. On average, a student retaking the SAT usually improves his overall score by a modest amount, because he is more familiar with the exam itself. So, we'll presume that Joe and Mike both gain twenty points from the "comfort factor". Joe's score should still be greater, arriving at a grand total of 660. However, Mike has a trick up his sleeve. He had the money to take the 500 dollar KAPLAN course, which inflated his score by fifity and made him APPEAR to be a better reader than he actually is. Now, Mike, with the "comfort" factor, AND the KAPLAN course, arrives at total of 680. Colleges shall see Mike as the better reader.
In sum....Money=Better Scores. I've a slew of other complaints, but I'll spare you all.
Plus....IT'S FOUR HOURS LONG. ;P. Props to the man that kept his head the entire time.
"To risk is to lose your footing. To avoid risk is to lose yourself"
-Soren Kierkegaard
-Soren Kierkegaard