USA Today reported about the changes to the SAT test and gave the results of the first 300,000 students to challenge this high-stress, high-priority exam on March 12. This week, as students began receiving their scores back, the College Board reported that 107 scored a perfect 2400; 800 points in each of the three sections-writing, critical reading and math. The writing section was added this year in addition to the two old sections.
It seems like as time goes on, more and more students are scoring very high scores on the SAT. Is it just because students are getting smarter, or are they just obsessing about it much more than past students? There are so many "SAT prep books" and "pre-tests" and techniques on how to be successful on this exam, it is almost becoming a joke. ACT tests are following on this same line. Students spend hours and hours preparing and studying and strategizing for this huge exam. So where does it become a joke? How far are our students going to go to gain a "perfect score"? Or are we just smart?
2 comments:
-1 on Ron's comment for punctuation errors.
I think this reflects increased studying and the increased inequality in incomes in this country. This is a signal to excel.
Speaking as someone who did get an 800 (on one section) I can attest to there being much more interest in attaining perfection on the exam. In 1980 when I took it, an 800 was regarded as an extremely good grade with a fair amount of luck added in (to make just the right guesses). Today it is regarded as something achievable with practice.
-1 on Fred's post for spelling errors.
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