Answer :
The SAT should be optional for college admissions because it may be biased against minority students, its predictive validity for college success is doubtful, and socioeconomic disparities can unfairly influence scores. Cheating scandals and recognition of more equitable assessment methods are further driving schools towards test-optional policies.
The SAT test should be optional for college admission for several reasons. Research suggests that the SAT might be biased and put minority students at a disadvantage, impacting their college admission chances (Santelices & Wilson, 2010). Moreover, the predictive validity of the SAT in forecasting first-year college GPA is questioned and may be overestimated by a significant margin (Rothstein, 2004).
Recognizing these issues, many higher education institutions are moving toward a test-optional admissions policy (Rimer, 2008).
Additionally, the fairness of college entrance exams is under scrutiny due to the influence of socioeconomic status, as evidence shows students from high-income families score higher, raising concerns about the equity of these tests.
Further criticism is levelled at the SAT due to cheating scandals, which have led to an increase in schools adopting a more flexible approach to SAT and ACT requirements (Strauss, 2019, March 19). This shift recognizes that high school grades might be more reflective of college success than standardized test scores, as acknowledged by College Board president David Coleman (Lewin, 2014).
