Monday, May 25, 2009

Social Class and ACT/SAT Scores...do they correlate?

Over the past few weeks we've been talking about social class in class and its really caught my interest. And then my friend recently brought up how she had watched a show on social class and how it can effect scores on the ACT and SAT. I looked further into this because at first I thought she was being a little dramatic about the situation. How could your social class effect how you do on a test that everyone has been taking for years? Then i found out the truth. The ACT and SAT is written by humans therefore there are mistakes in the test and the test may be geared toward one social class or group. For example the test is written in English,
what if English is a second language for one student. This could effect there score by the way they read the question and not accurately determine how smart they are. Also the ACT and SAT are geared more toward how you read the question and doesn't take into account what kind of person you are. It doesn't take into account weather you play a sport, or have 2 jobs, or do community service. Therefore when colleges get your scores all they see is a number and not how well rounded you are as a person. Because the ACT and SAT are geared more toward how you read the question there are prep classes that teach you how to decipher these questions. Now these classes cost a lot of money therefore the kids growing up in higher social classes have the money to pay for ACT and SAT prep classes. Some classes even guaranteeing a higher score than your previous or your money back. So parents with money are almost guaranteed that there child will get a better score on the ACT or SAT because of money. While the kids that are in lower social classes are left to take the test cold and hope that they get a better score the next time they take it just by chance. I find theses types of tests subjective and i don't think they should be a main focus when admitting kids into schools. I do understand that there has to be some sort of knowledge test and it will never be 100%, but what I do hope is that ACT and SAT scores start to take a back seat to you as a person and how well rounded you are.

1 comment:

OC said...

Claire,

Two quick points:

Why does there HAVE to be a test?

Also, the SAT is the Scholastic Aptitude Test -- NOT a "knowledge test." If knowledge were being sought, wouldn't grades, descriptions of course, and teacher recommendations be a better way to gauge knowledge than a three hour test?