Earlier today I watched the live stream (from SXSW, who knew the College Board was so hip?) of the College Board's David Coleman delivering updates on the future of the redesigned SAT. Just because I can't resist, let's get it out there that I already have a pretty sour taste in my mouth from Mr. Coleman's NACAC session and sadly the 70 minute live stream had some of the similar flaws of taking waaaaay longer than necessary to explain things. I much prefer cutting to the chase and eliminating the Robin William's iPad commercial brand of flowery language and rhetoric. But here is what I gleaned from the speech:
The College Board feels that standardized tests (they specifically cited BOTH the ACT and SAT, more on this later) are too disconnected from high school work. The redesigned SAT is aiming to make the exam more closely aligned to what is done both in the classroom and the real world. One of the first topics of the speech also had to do with the research that shows a large number of high performing low income students never apply to selective colleges. This concept boggles my mind (and the minds of my colleagues at NACAC) as I truly have a hard time believing there are kids out there scoring 2100 on the SAT who don't realize they have potential to be admitted to selective colleges, but perhaps we are biased because we work in schools that send us to NACAC. Either way, the College Board has it in their heads that they can unlock these opportunities for these students by mailing them college application fee waivers. Again, I'm boggled by this as virtually EVERY college allows any student who is verified as being low income to apply for free. My sense is if a student is earning a 2100 on the SAT they can also read the instructions on the Common App clearly enough to understand that they qualify to have the application fee waived. But, again, Coleman is convinced otherwise. In fact he got applause for this 'effort.' Seems like the far greater kind gesture would be for the College Board to waive fees for sending score reports or fees for the CSS Profiles, but as luck would have it, these things that are actual barriers don't seem to be in the mix for consideration.
One thing that Coleman did highlight though, that I do agree with, is the push by the College Board to address the inequities for underrepresented groups in math and science exams. Are you sitting down? Last year there were 8 states in the U.S. that had not a single black student sit for the Computer Science AP. Granted, that AP is a more obscure one, but zero test takers? The funnel is blocked and it does need help in being opened. Girls aren't in much of a better situation, with only 20% of Computer Science AP test takers identifying as female. As a country, we can do better.
Another thing I agree with: it was very clear from this speech that the College Board is on a mission to obliterate the test prep industry as we know it. Or at the very least cut it off at the knees. There were multiple pointed comments addressing what the College Board views as predatory practices of these companies that lead to a perception that achievement on the test is linked with the ability to complete hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of prep. This leads to the first actual substantive announcement of the stream: starting now the College Board is teaming up with Khan Academy to offer transparent and clear online test prep for all. This is the first partnership the College Board has had with an outside organization ever. In addition, prior to the redesign, Khan Academy will be offering free online prep for the current SAT. The Khan Academy partnership is going to be more than just videos and descriptions of how to answer problems. There is also going to be adaptive software and dashboards for teachers and parents. Let me also say, Sal Khan should have been the one delivering this entire address. He is a MUCH better public speaker and sounds so much less condescending than Mr. Coleman who may or may not have gone to the Marco Rubio school of public speaking, complete with mini-water bottle gulps. (#sorry). Visit www.khanacademy.org/sat for more information.
Next announcement: The College Board, in partnership with The Atlantic, will now be sponsoring a prize for top high school analytic writers. Wish we were given more info about this, but sounds innovative and interesting.
The redesigned SAT (set to be released in time for students that are currently in 9th grade) is going to be more focused, more clear, and more open. Everything on the exam will relate back to real life. Starting April 16th the College Board will publish sample questions and information about the new SAT at www.deliveringopportunity.org.
So let's talk details. The new test will have 3 sections: evidence based reading/writing, an essay, and math. The evidence based reading/writing section will ask students to go beyond just picking an answer but to explain where they got the evidence for that answer. There will also be science and history documents that ask students to analyze data. (Is someone flexing their muscles to go nose to nose with the ACT?) There will be no more sentence completions. Instead, students will analyze sequences of paragraphs and edit passages. Coleman and the College Board want to eliminate the idea of flashcards for vocabulary for the SAT. Instead, there will be a new type of focus on "powerful words" like 'synthesis' that have multiple meanings and applications. The essay portion of the SAT will now be optional. (ACT muscle flex number 2, for those out there counting). This new essay will have a universal prompt that is made available to test takers before the test. This advance prompt will then be applied to source material that is provided on the day of the test that asks students to use evidence from the document to answer the prompt. Sounds to me like an offshoot-hybrid of a "Document Based Question" that students are already familiar with. Last comes the math section. The focus here will be on problem solving, data analysis, mastery of linear equations, and the 'passport to advanced mathematics.' The goal will no longer be to trick the test taker. Plus, get this, there are now going to be some portions of the SAT where you cannot use a calculator. Non calculator portions will aim to "access ideas." It will be interesting to see the sample questions for this portion. Finally, there will be a change for the scoring of the new SAT. Can you guess what it is? I'll give you a hint, my ACT muscle is getting tired. The SAT will no longer penalize for wrong answers.
It will be interesting to see how (or if) these changes affect the landscape of college admissions. No mention was given to if the test length will change or if any administration changes will occur. (Full disclosure, my stream did go in an out occasionally and I did have three students stop in my office with questions while I was listening so if I these things were addressed and I missed them, mea culpa). There was also zero mention of fees for the new SAT. For a company so committed to helping low income students, they have some seriously questionable practices when it comes to fees. They offer these pointless college application waivers, but still charge students to send scores and use the CSS profile? They are committed to having more students take the AP exams, but conveniently forget to mention what a profit driver those tests are and how fewer and fewer colleges are actually accepting the exams for credit.
At the end, there was also a promotional video designed to inspire and empower the viewers. It didn't have much substance but the one thing I found particularly interesting about it was that it featured the President of Franklin & Marshall. Why is that so interesting, you might ask? Oh maybe because of all the schools out there to shill for the College Board I find it interesting that they went with the president of a testing optional school. Does this mean F&M is on the road to changing their tune about their test flexibility? Was this intended as an olive branch to show how the College Board really is evolving? Time will tell.
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