News Reporter
Choate administered the first of several SAT dates this year on October 14th. Many Choate sixth formers took the test for the last time before sending out their first college applications. Only in its second year, the new test has raised many concerns and opinions from students, colleges, and counselors alike.
The new SAT Reasoning Test is made up of 10 sections in critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills. Among the things changed from the previous SAT include the elimination of analogies, quantitative comparisons, and the addition of a written essay. The addition of the essay and extra sections made the total time for the test three hours and forty five minutes.
One of the major concerns is the length of the test. “It is way too long, and the problem is that there are ten sections and way too much stop and go,” said Lisa Rodenhizer, Testing Coordinator. “I think that fatigue is an issue… but I think in time everyone will adjust to it,” she continued. In a recent meeting with the College Board, Rodenhizer discussed this issue, but the College Board felt that fatigue did not factor into a student’s score.
However, many students believe that the exam is lengthy and tiring. Anthony White ’07 said, “Personally, I didn’t really like the SAT’s. I think the test is too long and doesn’t test your ability or your knowledge of reading or math. Since it is 4 hours and you’ve been there since 8 AM, you start asking yourself what you’re doing there.”
Dean Jacoby, Director of College Counseling, said, “We are worried about whether the test is really getting at the core academic values or if, with the addition of the essay, it has become more about endurance.”
Many students prefer the ACT because of its length and its focus. The ACT has four sections in math and reading, an optional essay, and a science section. “I think the ACT is more student-friendly,” said Rodenhizer.
Mathilde Williams ’07, who took both tests, remarked, “I think there’s a big difference between them. I like the ACT’s a lot better. The English section, which I usually don’t do very well on, reads like a story. There’s also a lot more focus on math and sciences. The SAT’s are also very long, and I think that affects how you do on them. The ACT’s are a lot shorter and I think that makes a real difference.”
Miki Ito ’07 said, “For me, the ACT is much better than the SATs. While the SAT has a lot of vocabulary sections and we lose points for guessing, the ACT has a science section instead of a vocab section and there’s no penalty for guessing. Because English is my second language, the vocab is the most difficult part, so naturally, I prefer the ACT.”
Students and the college office have also commented on the importance of the test in the college process.
Rodenhizer commented, “It’s only one piece. It is a standard measure of every applicant who applies to a certain college or university. Colleges need a standard measure as part of their admissions program.”
“A lot of people tend to put a lot of emphasis on the SAT as if it makes or breaks their acceptance to college. I think it’s just good to remember that your grades and how you did in school are the most important things.”
Jacoby echoed this idea and said, “There is no doubt that testing is one of the main components of the admissions for schools that require it. Every year, however, more and more schools are moving towards a testing optional scenario.”
One of the first schools to make standardized testing optional was Bates College. After tremendous research in the mid 1980’s, the college decided in 1992 to give applicants the choice of whether to include testing scores in their applications. The reasoning for this, according to Wylie Mitchell, Dean of Admissions at Bates College, was that SAT scores “turned out to not be the be all and end all.” That is, they were not a good measure of a student’s future academic success.
