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madaboutharry

(40,149 posts)
15. The SAT test has its origins in anti-Semitism.
Fri May 22, 2020, 06:56 AM
May 2020

The presidents of the IVY League universities in the early part of the 20th century became alarmed at the percentage of Jewish students gaining admission. The SAT test was designed to make it difficult for students who were immigrants or from immigrant families to answer questions with themes based on American culture. Now it is designed to help those who can afford tutors and expensive prep courses. There have been many studies that demonstrate success in college is better predicted by grades rather than SAT or ACT scores.

But these tests don't test critical reasoning. The SAT is mostly a vocabulary and reading test pnwmom May 2020 #1
GOOD!!! LovingA2andMI May 2020 #2
You're conflating the fitness of the SAT and ACT admissions tests with the general public's lack of Yavin4 May 2020 #3
Then how come the SAT was called the SAT Reasoning Test? alp227 May 2020 #6
Most students do well based on the prep courses and other materials JI7 May 2020 #9
They thought it worked as a "brand," since they decided calling it an "Aptitude" test pnwmom May 2020 #11
I did shitty on my SATs, but I got through undergrad with little to no problem. Yavin4 May 2020 #21
Another thing some people don't realize is that some of the best students pnwmom May 2020 #28
Do you have kids in school now? Yavin4 May 2020 #20
Therein lies the problem. Note these tests are owned by private companies and it's all about money. onetexan May 2020 #29
spend your entire high school yrs playing w/your phone in class and can't pass the SAT? msongs May 2020 #4
Who wants to pay higher education money when you can't go to the higher education campus? Initech May 2020 #5
I agree LeftInTX May 2020 #7
They often benefit those with money and hurt the poor JI7 May 2020 #8
If prep courses improve your score... Yavin4 May 2020 #22
It's always been the ability to take the test. JI7 May 2020 #23
Not enough enrollees due to costs rickyhall May 2020 #10
Standards in teaching should not be dropped BUT onlyadream May 2020 #12
The common core has big intrinsic problems too, though. Squinch May 2020 #14
Common core isn't perfect but onlyadream May 2020 #32
I don't think Smith and Chicago are dumbing down anything. Squinch May 2020 #13
The SAT test has its origins in anti-Semitism. madaboutharry May 2020 #15
Standardized test scores are not the best predictors of college success. Lonestarblue May 2020 #16
I learn more off well-selected YouTube and Open Culture than I did in most college courses bucolic_frolic May 2020 #17
So now we are saying the only thing SAT and ACT measured is White cultural bias and vocabulary? Ford_Prefect May 2020 #18
The SAT and ACT was the only way I got into college as a non diagnosed dyslexic in '69. marble falls May 2020 #19
I agree, teach critical reasoning, and dump SAT/ACT biased by design against the underprivileged. 0nirevets May 2020 #24
It's possible to be pro intellectualism AND be against the SAT/ACT tests Yavin4 May 2020 #25
But don't good grades come FROM understanding the material? alp227 May 2020 #26
To a large extent, education today has become a giant video game... Yavin4 May 2020 #27
This message was self-deleted by its author geralmar May 2020 #30
I understand the objection to these tests, but.... Happy Hoosier May 2020 #31
Hmmm.... Xolodno May 2020 #33
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