Impact of SAT optional admissions

Data10
Sat, 20 Jan 2018 03:46:08 +0000

Not what was intended.

I’m sure that some of the colleges referenced in the article were not surprised by their results. It was intended results for them. However, the fact that some colleges take advantage of the test optional system does not mean all test optional colleges are doing so for less altruistic reasons… For example, the paper at http://www.ithaca.edu/ir/docs/testoptionalpaper.pdf discusses Ithaca’s reasons for going test optional and results of implementing the policy. The study found that including test scores in the application only improved their predictive accuracy of Ithaca student’s GPA by 1% above an application without test scores. The only SAT section that had a statistically significant effect in improving prediction of academic success beyond the rest of the application was the SAT writing section, which no longer exists. After the test optional policy was implemented, overall applications increased, in particular among URMs. This led to the most diverse class in the college’s history, immediately following going test optional. IPEDS suggests a >60% increase in African American. Reported test scores changed as listed below, after going test optional. Yes, the 25th percentile increased, but not by a ridiculous amount that will distort USNWR rankings.

Year before Test Optional – 520/630 and 530/640
First year of Test Optional – 540/630 and 540/640