A recent report by the College Board found that scores on the critical reading section on the SAT exam fell by 3 points to its lowest point on record, while combined reading and math scores fell to its lowest point since 1995[i].
The report claims the reason for the drop in scores is due to the growing diversity of the test taking pool. According to the College Board, the growing diversity in the test taking pool primarily by Latinos whose native language is not English and an increase among African-American students due outreach efforts has led to the decrease in scores.
Increased diversity cannot be completely blamed on low test scores. While it is convenient to blame increased participation of minorities and English Language Learners for the decline in overall scores, there are other reasons to consider.
Critics of the SAT have long claimed the test is biased against minorities. They argue the test content was developed for students who come from upper and middle class backgrounds. Critics argue that knowing there is a great chasm between affluent and poor districts, the test places students from poorer districts at a disadvantage because they may not have been exposed or properly prepared by their schools. Since colleges and universities place a heavy emphasis on SAT scores, students from poorer districts are limited to where they can apply.
Critics also claimed the ability of upper and middle class families to pay for test preparation services, provides an unfair advantage over families who cannot afford to pay for test preparation services. Providing students who can afford it with strategies on how to do well on the test provides a false portrayal to colleges and universities of a student’s academic ability because their scores are inflated.
If the College Board is going to stick with their poorly construed explanation for the drop in overall test scores, then the solution for the College Board is to make the test more accessible to the increasing minority pool. The College Board has not adapted test to address the needs of English Language Learners and other minorities. The test does not consider language adaptations or cultural situations when test questions and scenarios are being developed.
By not acting on the results of their study, the College Board has acknowledged minorities will be used as the scapegoat for the shortcomings of the SAT. Scapegoating minorities deflects the attention away from a test that is considered by many to be culturally biased and unfair because for a fee, a student can be taught how to do well on the test.
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