Last December, the pro bono firm Public Counsel threatened a lawsuit against the University of California, requesting that the university stop using standardized test scores in its admissions process, certainly a reasonable request. After all, how many college graduates interviewing for jobs will need to answer the question, “What did you get on your ACT?”
Placing an undue emphasis on a standardized test score to determine whether a student should receive higher education at a public university turns a blind eye to a student’s potential and abilities. Moreover, access to standardized testing is dependent on a student’s financial situation. Even though these standardized tests can be useful to represent the scale of knowledge and skill level across a group of students, it is unjust and unfair for colleges to require it in the college admissions score.
Prospective freshmen who would like to attend a University within the University of California school system are required to submit scores from either the ACT with Writing or the SAT with Essay. The University of California claims, “At UC, we use admissions test results not only to assess your academic preparation and achievement, but to help us determine your qualifications beyond what we see in your grades” on its admissions website.
Public Counsel, however, contends reliance as standardized testing perpetuates inequality in public education. A letter from the coalition groups sent to the University of California in November read: “Research demonstrates the SAT and ACT systematically prevent talented and qualified students with less accumulated advantage—including students with less wealth, students with disabilities, and underrepresented minority students—from accessing higher education at the University of California.”
Like online shopping, when you register for the ACT or SAT, you put the test you want to purchase into your “cart.” The test itself (without the essay portion) usually costs a student $45-49, with additional writing bringing the cost to around $62.50. As students register—and after they’ve completed the process—the testing corporations offer additional test-review products and services that allow students with the financial resources potentially to get ahead.
The SAT does provide a fee waiver for students enrolled in or eligible to participate in the NSLP (National School Lunch Program): included in the fee waiver are two free SATs, with or without the essay, six free SAT Subject Tests, and two free Question-and-Answer Service (QAS) or Student Answer Service (SAS) reports.
The state of North Carolina, along with 15 other states, provides students access to free ACT testing, allowing 11th grade students to take the ACT through the school.
Equity plays a big role in the college admissions process. Wealthier families can afford to have their child test on multiple occasions, taking and retaking the standardized test of their choice as long as they can afford the costs. Privileged students may also benefit from private tutoring, classes offered by corporations like Kaplan and Princeton Review or other enrichment activities. In short, standardized tests can measure a student’s privilege, but are they really a reliable measure of a student’s potential?
In 2018, 13 percent of the 1,914,817 students who took the ACT racially identified as an African-American; 52 percent of test takers were white. According to the United States Census Bureau, the median household income for African-Americans is $40,800, while white households had a median income of $67,270. That disparity in income can go a long way to providing resources to improve standardized testing scores.
Simply put, standardized testing not only widens the achievement gap within the United States, but it also keeps many hardworking, but underrepresented low-income students from getting into prestigious institutions like the University of California.
There are many different ways universities can identify a potential student. Colleges should consider looking deeper into student portfolios, considering applicants’ actual scholastic work that can represent their potential as well as a test that students can pay to take over and over.
Dartmouth College’s admissions office informs applicants: “Every student we admit brings something unique to the community: a combination of qualities, experiences, and point-of-view that isn’t duplicated by any other student. So come to Dartmouth.”
Dartmouth may have students with astronomically high ACT and SAT scores (some form of standardized testing is required in their admissions), although the principles by which they evaluate students should be the standard by which other colleges admit applicants minus, of course, required ACT or SAT scores.
If colleges were to judge students based on what they can bring to the classroom environment rather than how they perform on standardized tests, they would have a more realistic idea of how those students will fare for four years at the school.
Students are already able to highlight many skills and accomplishments that don’t have to be associated with a number: a great orchestra performance, outstanding service in their community, academic contests they’ve won. A greater focus upon candidates’ work ethic, academic achievements and actual school work would promote equal opportunities in public education.
All in all, when a university places standardized tests as a requirement in the college admissions process, the university erects an artificial barrier, denying students without privileges the right to the public education their tax dollars do, in fact, help fund.
