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[quote=Anonymous]I don’t understand the faith so many of you have in SAT scores as a measure of ability. Yes, there is a correlation between SAT scores and first year college grades, BUT I’d be willing to bet a lot money that is because colleges, especially in first year, survey-type courses, emulate the conditions of the SAT (e.g., in-class, time-pressure tests, even MCQs, as opposed to papers or take-home exams). That was my experience at a T20 university. I was really surprised how many intro level courses had MCQ format for tests. I haven’t been able to find a study (in either direction) on the ACT/SAT, but a study on the LSAT and law school grades found there is strong correlation between LSAT and in-class exams and a weak or even negative correlation between the LSAT scores and grades on classes with a paper-based or take-home final. I’d be willing to bet it is similar for college, which is probably why so many LACs (who tend to favor discussion and papers to MCQs) eschewed test scores long ago.

Let’s face it, the time constraints are, for the vast majority of classes and professions, artificial and have no bearing on one’s ability to actually master the material.  They create distinctions that are arbitrary and benefit the ones who are hot-boxed and excel under timed conditions, even if they aren’t otherwise “better”.  There is no reason it has to be this way.  For careers where it does matter, there are other, more appropriate screens, not at the college entrance gates.[/quote]

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