[dandesim]

This are big statements to be making with no rationale. These will still be proctored exams in person, so there is no reason to believe that cheating will increase. Additionally, there is low indicators from the start that standardized tests correlate with academic success, hence the number of higher ed institutions no longer requiring them.

People who want to cheat will always find a way to cheat. All you need to do now is go to the bathroom and lookup answers on your phone.

[ghaff]

Standardized tests actually correlate better with academic success than a number of other measures. Some Ivies have recently been reinstituting standardized testing requirements.

[dandesim]

That’s just straight false, or at least I have never seen any evidence showing a strong correlation. What has been shown is the negative advantage minorities, impoverished, ESL, disabled people have when taking the test and the advantages that wealthy people who can pay for tutors have.

[ghaff]

ANd yet there's widespread reinstitution of standardized test requirements, see e.g. https://admissions.dartmouth.edu/apply/update-testing-policy

[knightoffaith]

>What has been shown is the negative advantage minorities, impoverished, ESL, disabled people have when taking the test and the advantages that wealthy people who can pay for tutors have.

How does this contradict the GP? This doesn't necessarily seem inconsistent with standardized tests correlating better with academic success on its face. Because I would expect that such people tend to have not just worse standardized test scores but also worse academic success (because of the advantages that wealthy people have that these people lack).

[dandesim]

There is a difference between aptitude (intelligence) and academic success (grades). There is also the underlying issue of equity.

If someone with a high aptitude but low academic performance is put into a situation where they have more access to resources, they will perform better than someone with low aptitude that has the means to make up for it in their academic success.

For instance, the popular college prep hack is take the SAT three times. Study for a different section each time, and colleges will take your highest score of each section. That’s not possible without the moderate financial means to take the test multiple times.

[nothercastle]

Doing these online will create Lots of opportunities to cheat. You guys underestimate how much money there is in cheating these tests. It’s easily worth 100k per head maybe more.

[dandesim]

It’s worth a lot to a small subset of people, but that’s an issue today. The biggest way the group you’re referring to cheats will not be made worse by having the system online (bribe proctors, have someone else take the test, SAT training, etc.)

Your average high school student does not have thousands, let alone tens of thousands, of dollars at their disposal to cheat on the SATs.

[justrealist]

Actually many higher ed institutions are re-instituting them this year: https://rhodeislandcurrent.com/2024/03/05/brown-shifts-back-...