On Wednesday, the CollegeBoard announced the discontinuation of the optional essay portion of the SAT in June and the immediate cancellation of all subject tests, the one-hour exams students often take to gain admission to highly selective schools. Because the testing landscape has changed rapidly over the last year, both due to COVID and to criticism, these most recent changes are not a big surprise; however, they are evidence of a testing industry in jeopardy, trying to cling to its market share.
While the current trend in greater flexibility in testing policies is popular, testing will continue to be used to validate academic records. An A at one school is not equivalent to an A at another school, and test scores are the favored way to differentiate students with similar records. Just because the CollegeBoard is initiating these sweeping changes, we should not interpret these moves as indicators that testing is dying out. We also should not be disillusioned by schools that claim to be test optional. Often, test optional status is a ploy to entice applicants to apply, thereby lowering admission rates, a touted statistic.
For the past few years, I have advised my students not to take the essay portion of the SAT or the ACT unless their college interests include a school that requires the essay, of which there are relatively few. My advice was previously based on subjectivity in scoring and the limited scales the scorers use. Students sometimes take the essay portion only to earn a score that taints an otherwise strong score report. Moreover, an AP Language score is likely stronger evidence of writing ability than one 40- or 50-minute timed essay. The removal of the essay portion of the test will limit testing time to three hours for students without accommodations. I am a fan of this CollegeBoard change.
Frankly, though, the more significant CollegeBoard change, even if it affects fewer students, is the elimination of subject tests. Subject tests have long been used to enhance a student’s portfolio by showcasing proficiencies in particular areas. Today’s parents, if they took these tests, may have known them as Achievement Tests or, later, SAT II Subject Tests. Removing these requirements and relying instead often on AP scores, a testing platform also notably controlled by the CollegeBoard, will be a welcome time and money saver for many students.
I applaud both of these changes, although I recognize them as moves made by the CollegeBoard to leverage position within the testing industry and to streamline its testing. The ACT will hopefully follow suit in short order and discontinue its essay as well.
Bottom line, though, don’t cancel your testing dates. Testing still matters!