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Much ado about the SAT: score padding
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Baylor University is in hot water over paying already admitted students for re-taking the SAT... it is suspected that the motive was to improve national ranking.
SAT makers College Board has given students more control over reporting SAT scores allowing them to bank tests and then later decide which scores would be sent.
Some schools are unhappy about the SAT banking option. According to Amanda Crowe at the College Media Network, Score Choice could weaken incoming classes. Here is an excerpt:
Although students have had unlimited shots at the SAT in recent years, colleges could also see the number of tests taken and all of the scores. Even though some colleges said they would consider only the highest scores, all test sessions counted.
Well, things have changed for SAT score reporting. The College Board has implemented a new program called Score Choice, which allows students to report only the best score achieved while hiding any other scores they may have earned.
Score Choice is going to have consequences more severe than drawing ire from past SAT takers who did not have the same option. If the University decides to accept scores from students who have used Score Choice, it could end up with a lazier freshman class.
Meanwhile, elite Universities are threatening to reject SAT Score Choice.
Harvard and the University of Chicago have accepted the policy, while USC, the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell, and Pomona continue to require all scores.
Arguments against Score Choice says that it is unfair to poorer students.
Much of the initial criticism of the policy focused on whether this policy would simply give another edge to wealthier students, who can afford test prep services and the costs of repeatedly taking the SAT. While the College Board waives the SAT fee for low-income students, they are allowed only two tries without paying. Those willing to pay may take the exam again and again.
College board claims that the changes will "alleviate student stress". However, many colleges would already look at all of the scores and use the two highest scores for each subject. Now, the student must choose the overall higher score with no test splitting allowed. It seems to me that the changes are made to help College Board make more money because students can take the test two, three, four, or as many times as they need with no penalty.
This leaves me with one question. Does this border on sanctioned cheating?
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