Today’s Question and Answer We received a large number of responses to our question about your thoughts on the SAT’s new adversity score. Here is a selection of them: Jan Hayden, Maryland I feel this is unfair. Just because someone does not live in poverty or goes to a better school does not mean they don’t have issues that they deal with on a daily basis. For instance, illness, abuse, bullying, etc. Education has become watered down with the attitude and some rules where you pass the grade even if you have not earned it. Chris Roos, Hawaii As with other SAT scores, an entire methodology and industry will arise that enables test takers to better their score and become more attractive candidates. In spirit, it seems like a morally sound addition, but quantifying hardship is an enormous undertaking that I’m not sure the College Board is qualified or ready to take on. John Trever, New Mexico I’d like to hear more about what happens to students admitted for racial or adversity reasons after they’re admitted. Presumably, the SAT score measures readiness to do college work. If those whose SAT scores are lower are admitted to “diversify” the student body, it seems likely that they might face academic adversity, struggle more to keep up and end up with a lower graduation rate. Perhaps they would have more success at a less selective institution that is a better match for their academic preparation. Phoebe Prah, Ghana The College Board needs to answer to how the score will be computed and who/where the information is coming from. Relying on public records or census data sounds all well and good, but what does it tell about an individual test-taker’s specific context with respect to adversity? I’m trying to be optimistic here. Stuart Goldstein, Michigan When hiring someone, be it an employee or professional, my goal is to obtain competence and quality, not to provide an opportunity but to achieve a result. By lowering standards we will be “dumbing down” our expectations and losing quality where it counts, in the “real” world. No one should get a trophy for participation. Nate Theisen, Nebraska In the debate over college admissions, most people will admit that some objective measurable criteria need to be used to determine the preparedness of students. The core function of the SAT is to provide exactly that, which can be used to compare students from all kinds of socioeconomic backgrounds. Having an “adjustment score” inherently undermines the whole point of the test. Zach Tomlinson, Texas We’re not addressing the true problem. Like it or not, the U.S. is not a world leader anymore. We should focus on educating people to the highest standard across the social and economic spectra from an early age. There is no “quick fix” for diversity if we as a country want to be a world leader. Pamela Primakov, New York As a parent of two teens who have taken the SAT and ACT, I can honestly say the scores mean nothing, absolutely nothing...it is a statement on how well the student can take a standardized test. Both of my kids are top-tier students, GPAs 4.0 and up, landed in the top 5% throughout high school, yet test well below their standard on the SAT. My take is test anxiety and time management reduce scores. Time to do away with these exams, as many colleges have decided to make reporting scores optional. Question for the next 10-Point: Going back to our article above, what should companies do to ensure that executive pay tracks company performance or shareholder results? Email us your comments, which we may edit before publication, to 10point@wsj.com, and make sure to include your first and last name and location. |