Now that we are in the midst of application season, students applying for schools – boarding and university – are evaluating and re-evaluating their school choices. Many aspiring students take their aspirations when they build their list of schools, hoping beyond hope to reach their Dream School. But then the testing comes – SSAT, SAT, ACT, TOEFL/IELTS, and their list is confronted by the stark reality that their goal is now beyond reach – or is it?
At a recent conference, a panel discussion with several universities and Bob Schaeffer from FairTest.org presented about how schools that are test-optional/flexible are seeing not only an increase in applications, but more importantly no adverse decline in the quality of students nor their overall performance once in school. Fair Test lists all the schools that currently do not require test scores in evaluating students. There is a fair number of schools and lest one think that good schools are not on the list, one only needs to look to the University of Chicago! But one should also know there are over 1,000 colleges and universities which no longer request scores.
It is important to thoroughly research each school that offers this benefit before committing, as some schools may have this policy for domestic students only and there may be other caveats in place. But in the end many schools have considered a few of the following questions to determine that test scores add little value in determining whether a student is prepared for the rigors of academics at their school:
- Do the tests really have predictive validity at this institution?
- Does that validity hold for all ethnic, age, and income groups as well as for both men and women?
- Do the tests add anything significant to what admissions officers already know about applicants?
- Are test score requirements deterring potential applicants who would make suitable students?
For schools that have decided “no” to those questions, the benefits have outweighed any downside. Let’s consider the first question – do tests really predict performance? In a test-based culture where test prep runs to the extremes, one could easily conclude that students outperform the value of the test. Students become hypersensitive to their scores and constantly compare their scores to others. Which creates a vicious cycle of adding to the money machine of test prep. Schools and colleges (boarding and universities) know that the value of test scores is diluted in the frantic score race.
But what is the race for? The highly competitive race to get into one’s dream school. Then we come to the next question which addresses validity focused on income among other criteria. It goes without saying that families with more income have more money to spend on test prep. Without being too focused on some of the issues of this question there are certain types of students who do do better on standardized tests because of the benefits of living in higher income areas – better schools, better opportunities. By moving to test optional, schools can place more value on relevant aspects of a student’s application – performance in school.
Which brings us to a point that is never really talked about but inherently present – many students are enrolled in AP, IB and A Level programs at schools here. Each of these programs are considered college level in terms of their content and expectations. So, if a student is successful in achieving high grades in college-level courses, why would one need to take a 3 hour and 45-minute test to validate something they have already validated by being academically successful?
So back to the main topic of this piece – if scores don’t match what should a student do? Re-evaluate and look at a wider set of schools. Most importantly focus on the programs and courses schools offer. Check out schools that are test-optional. Know the requirements but in the end, your list of schools should have a good balance of reach, core, and foundation. It is always important to keep expectations reasonable as there are no guarantees in admission to any university of any caliber.
Hamilton Gregg is the founder of International Educational Consulting and has worked in education since 1985. He helps students and their families understand their personal and educational needs and find the right school to meet their requirements. If you are a student or parent who would like to ask Gregg a question on our blog, please email hsgregg45@gmail.com
Photos: courtesy of Hamilton Gregg, unsplash
