Dr. Creighton's It Doesn T Test For Success

In her op-ed piece, It Doesn’t Test For Success, (Creighton), Joanne V Creighton, PHD asserts that standardized test scores such as the SAT’s are no longer useful in predicting the potential successes of today’s students. Dr. Creighton, who at the time was President of Mount Holyoke College, cited the errors in scoring on the SAT for approximately 4,000 students. She further stated that while the test may have made sense when first developed, it no longer presents an accurate portrait of the potential of today’s college-bound students. While Dr. Creighton presents some valid points, I do not believe we should completely disregard the value of the SAT’s. This is a complex issue with many things to consider and, as the saying goes, let’s not
throw out the baby with the bathwater just yet. The catalyst for Dr. Creighton’s article appears to be the error in reporting the SAT scores for approximately 4,000 students. This error was the result of a technical issue encountered during the scanning of the answer sheets. These 4,000 students represented less than 1% of all students taking the test during that sitting (Pope). To condemn the overall value and relevance of the test based on what amounts to a computer error is an overreaction. Although it was most certainly an inconvenience and caused stress to those involved, the error was caught, the scores were recalculated, and the correct information was communicated to the students and other interested parties. Dr.
Creighton goes on to make the valid point that a “one-size fits all test could not adequately assess the diverse populations of students and schools that make up the U.S. educational landscape.” (Creighton) She also points out that the most prestigious universities are primarily made up of whites, Asians, and the wealthy, while the number of students being educated from the lower end of the economic scale is extremely low. While this may not be the level playing field that the developers of the test had envisioned, I do not think it is fair to blame that statistic solely on the results of the SAT. Other influences come into play. A report by the National Center for Education Statistics found that while qualified low-income students attend college at rates similar to qualified middle-income students, college-qualified students who believe that college is unaffordable, such as low-income and minority students, are less likely to take the necessary steps to enroll in college, such as taking the SAT. (St.John) The solution to the problem of low enrollment numbers of qualified low-income and minority students would then appear to be better communication of the ways to make college affordable. This, in turn, would increase the number of students taking college entrance exam, thereby increasing the number of students from the lower end of the economic scale receiving college educations. The annual college rankings report by U.S. News and World Report is another measurement that Dr. Creighton finds lacking. On this point I am inclined to agree with her. This report considers information other than the academic performance of students when compiling its rankings, such as acceptance rate and alumni donations, which gives the appearance of a biased
report. Mount Holyoke College stopped requiring the SAT for admission in 2001, making it optional. According to Dr. Creighton, since they stopped requiring the SAT, the school has been studying the effects as a result. Upon finding “no meaningful difference in academic performance between the students who did not submit scores and those who did” (Creighton), the school came to the conclusion that the SAT is unnecessary to predict future academic performance. This study also confirmed that the higher the income level of a students’ family, the more likely the student will take advantage of tutoring or special instruction on taking the SAT. In Dr. Creighton’s opinion, this calls into question the credibility of the SAT. I think this statement is a little strong. The students who cannot afford private tutors or preparation lessons for taking the SAT do have other options. The public library has preparation workbooks available to everybody free of charge. There are online resources to help prepare for the test, which can also be accessed at the public library free of charge. The answer, according to Dr. Creighton, is to look at a student’s overall high school performance, activities, and recommendations and to disregard the SAT scores. I agree that this approach does offer a more balanced view of the student as a whole. It is important for a student to be well rounded, and not just an accomplished test taker. I still think that SAT scores should at least be a part of the equation. Even though a student may be well rounded, he still must be able to take and pass standardized tests in order to proceed and eventually graduate from college.
I applaud Dr. Creighton’s persistence in encouraging colleges to look at the big picture when selecting students to accept. It is important, however, to maintain a balance and not swing from one extreme to another. SAT scores are but one criterion of several that should be looked at by college admissions offices when selecting the right students to attend their school.

Works Cited
Creighton, Joanne V. "Dr." Los Angeles Times 13 March 2006.

Pope, Justin. The Associated Press 11 March 2006.

St.John, Edward P. The Access Challenge: Rethinking the Causes of the New Inequality. Bloomington: Indiana University, Bloomington: Education Policy Center, 2002.