The New New SAT

The new SAT has caused a 15-point drop in student scores. This, to me, is likely a good thing. They've done so much dumbing down on that test that it's crazy. Mensa used to accept SAT scores for proof of IQ for admission. Now they don't because the newer tests aren't a good predictor of reasoning abilities. Everything now is focused on "subject tests."

That subjects are the focus is a sign we are getting near the bottom of the educational well. Education used to be about teaching you how to think, but now it's only about making sure you can regurgitate certain information.

Do I think the new new SAT is an improvement over the old new SAT? Not really. They are both too content-based. However, the least they could do is make the content college-level stuff. Maybe they are doing that, but I doubt it. The pessimist in me figures these scores are just an aberration, but I can hope the College Board is increasing the rigor. Even if this trend in scores continues (they are predicting a 4-5 point this year over last), they will likely just dumb down the test further so it looks like the scores are consistent. ::sigh::