UC system reconsiders value of SAT

An advisory panel at the University of California recommended last week that the university replace the SAT I admissions test with a "core achievement test," intended to better judge applicants' chances of success in college.

The UC Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools concluded that aptitude tests such as the SAT I are less accurate indicators of future academic performance as a college freshman than are achievement tests such as the SAT II.

Furthermore, according to the report issued by BOARS, the purported ability of the SAT to reveal the academic potential of students from disadvantaged backgrounds "is largely a phantom, at least at the University of California."

"Our evidence from UC students indicates that the SAT II is a slightly better indicator of freshmen GPA than the SAT I," said Assistant Dean Dorothy Perry of the UC San Francisco School of Dentistry and lead author of the report.

Chiara Coletti, vice president of public affairs for the College Board — the group that administers the SAT — said that while her organization was willing to work with the UC on developing a new test, it disagreed with the BOARS recommendation.

"Do we think [the change] is necessary? No. We think the SAT I, the SAT II and classroom grades are sufficient," she said.

Coletti noted that any replacement test that the UC system may employ must allow for equating scores to the SAT and ACT, so that students would not be required to take multiple tests.

"It could become a very confusing situation," Coletti said of the proposed test. "Guidance counselors are already overworked."

Math, language arts and a writing sample would comprise the new tests proposed by BOARS. "The SAT [I] does not have a writing sample," said Perry, adding that other changes would make the new test more reflective of students' achievement in school rather than general aptitude.

Coletti maintained that the present test serves to level the playing field. "If your curriculum [in high school] wasn't so rich, but you've been an independent learner, you can demonstrate a high degree of achievement" through the SAT, she said.

Richard Atkinson, president of the University of California, has been a proponent of re-evaluating testing standards. He previously stated that the SAT may disadvantage African-American and Hispanic applicants.

University Dean of Admissions Fred Hargadon said that it is "healthy" to re-evaluate the heavy emphasis placed on SAT scores.

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"I happen to believe that SAT scores are useful as long as their limitations are recognized, and as long as they are only one of a number of factors taken into consideration," he wrote in an e-mail.

Perry said she could not speculate on the likelihood of UC Regents actually eliminating the SAT I from admissions criteria. According to Coletti, the action is unique among the several thousand member institutions of the College Board. "It's an isolated situation," she said.