If SAT/ACT Suppose to Measure Ability...

Test Preparation
1

<p>If the SAT and ACT are suppose to be measures of academic ability, then should it be possible for one to raise their score 200+ points on SAT or 3+ points on the ACT in a short period of time? </p>

<p>Doesn’t the fact that scores improve so drastically reveal a flaw in the tests, that perhaps they are too easily “learned”? </p>

<p>What do you think, on an ideal SAT ACT, should large score gains be as common as they are?</p>

2

<p>Short answer: who gives a damn?</p>

<p>Long answer: People who improve by 200+ points typically had the ability to get that score + 200 in the first place, but just weren’t familiar with the test format and did worse than their true potential.</p>

3

<p>^I agree…that’s well said.</p>

4

<p>Logically, if a test is supposed to measure inherent ability yet the score one receives can be altered by training, then its basic premise is flawed. This is true of the SAT and especially the ACT.</p>

5

<p>I’ve been told that the ACT measures knowledge and the SAT measures reasoning skills. So it’s more possible to study for the ACT than the SAT. But I do think it’s a bit of a flaw. I think first-try is the true measure (unless you weren’t feeling well, etc). The tests should measure “inherent ability” as said previously.</p>

6

<p>why would SATs test inherent ability. why dont u make everyone take an IQ test then?</p>

<p>tho that would be cool. if colleges required IQ tests :]</p>

7

<p>You know, reasoning skills aren’t concrete and immutable. If someone goes up considerably, it could be for the reason I mentioned above or, in fact, because he/she has become “smarter”.</p>

8

<p>Right. Otherwise scores wouldn’t vary so much with age.</p>

9

<p>Ability isn’t fixed. </p>

<p>[STANFORD</a> Magazine: March/April 2007 > Features > Mind-set Research](<a href=“Page Not Found”>Page Not Found) </p>

<p>If you raise your ability, you will enjoy higher scores. If you read more, you will gain ability at reading. If you do more math problems, you will gain ability at math. If you write more often and more carefully, you will gain ability at writing.</p>