As many of you know, the College Board announced today that as of spring 2016, the SAT will be altered. Since 2005, when the last change was made to the SAT, many arguments have sprouted that the SAT does not test students on the important material that is necessary to get through life. The new version of the SAT focuses in on this issue, and makes the exam more practical and meaningful.
One of the main changes that the College Board has proposed is the elimination of the infamous "SAT words", a random combination of words that aren't as useful as they're made out to be. Words like "depreciatory" and "membranous" will be removed from the test and replaced with words such as "synthesis" and empirical", which are used in many college courses and throughout life. In addition, the SAT exam will revert to the original 1,600 point system, 800 of those points dedicated to reading and the other 800 to math. The essay portion of the test will become optional, and if one choses to write the essay, it will be scored separately. Also, the math section of the test will focus on linear equations, complex equations, ratios, percentages, and proportional reasoning instead of a wide range of topics; students will not be allowed to use a calculator on all parts of the test. Additionally, each exam will include passages on science and social studies, and one of the nation's "founding documents" (i.e. The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights). On top of that, the guessing penalty will be removed; points will no longer be deducted for wrong answers.
In my opinion, I think that all the alterations to the SAT are logical. I believe that many standardized tests are unnecessary, and do not truly asses students' ability. By altering the SAT, I think that the College Board will succeed in testing students on the topics that really matter, and will overall improve the college admission process. The only thing that worries me about the new SAT is that the first year it will be administered is the year that I will take the test. Hopefully, in the next few years, we will develop a better idea of the test in order to improve our scores.
One of the main changes that the College Board has proposed is the elimination of the infamous "SAT words", a random combination of words that aren't as useful as they're made out to be. Words like "depreciatory" and "membranous" will be removed from the test and replaced with words such as "synthesis" and empirical", which are used in many college courses and throughout life. In addition, the SAT exam will revert to the original 1,600 point system, 800 of those points dedicated to reading and the other 800 to math. The essay portion of the test will become optional, and if one choses to write the essay, it will be scored separately. Also, the math section of the test will focus on linear equations, complex equations, ratios, percentages, and proportional reasoning instead of a wide range of topics; students will not be allowed to use a calculator on all parts of the test. Additionally, each exam will include passages on science and social studies, and one of the nation's "founding documents" (i.e. The Declaration of Independence, The Bill of Rights). On top of that, the guessing penalty will be removed; points will no longer be deducted for wrong answers.
In my opinion, I think that all the alterations to the SAT are logical. I believe that many standardized tests are unnecessary, and do not truly asses students' ability. By altering the SAT, I think that the College Board will succeed in testing students on the topics that really matter, and will overall improve the college admission process. The only thing that worries me about the new SAT is that the first year it will be administered is the year that I will take the test. Hopefully, in the next few years, we will develop a better idea of the test in order to improve our scores.