Sorry @SatchelSF - can’t agree with that one. There are plenty of wealthy Americans with bright kids who qualify for admission to the elites. Even if you don’t consider the population difference between, say, the US and China. And who knows how many of the “bright” internationals have fake transcripts and fake essays and cheated on standardized testing. And even if some of you claim it’s a small number, when you look at the small number of international admissions to the small number of spots available in the elites, even a few can make a big difference.
I have no issue with really highly qualified kids from everywhere-in reasonable percentages. US schools are non profit and receive federal funds so it should certainly be limited to full pay or separate funds to support need based scholarships for stellar non US applicants --IMO. Back to topic! I think the ACT and SAT should not be administered anywhere outside the US. If you are an expat-or a hopeful international, fly here. The SAT or ACT is no different than voting–it is an admission ticket to some degree to a US service LOL. And–why arent they listening to me??? Database of questions and each test is generated randomly!!! So what will happen with 8/25 test!
DS took the 8/25 test and since there has been no word yet from CB, my vote is that we will get our scores Friday morning as planned…
Not allowed to post links to blogs, but look up and read jed applerouth’s blog (■■■■■■■■■■■■■■) from May 15 and Aug 30, 2018 for more info on the Asian cheating issues. It includes interviews with college consultants in Asia. I have also read information on a professional listserv from another college consultant in Bejing. They are well aware of the culture of cheating.
Perhaps testing sites should be restricted to US sites and limited testing as US run international schools - like those run by the DoD or the embassies, or those where the students are predominantly ex-pats. For international students, allow the use of exams from their own companies, or tell students they have to travel to the US or an approved site. If my daughter wants to attend Oxford, she can travel to England to take their exam, or submit what Oxford considers equivalent (3 relevant AP exams scoring 5 or better, or SAT2 score 700 or better), and since she is interest in Computer Science, she would also need to take the MAT exam (though there are a few US testing sites).
Well-off Asian students would still travel here to take the tests, but I don’t really see a problem with that, because they need to be able to support themselves if they travel here to study.
What does traveling to the US to take the test have to do with supporting themselves if they travel. to the US to study? Regardless of where they take the test, they have to prove their ability to afford their expenses, and get the necessary visas.
Since we are taking about international students (and their pocketbooks), this wsj compilation has some good data to clarify things for us http://graphics.wsj.com/international-students/
Quite a few state-flagship schools and small to medium size privates seem to really rely on “revenues” of international students.
That article has been posted on CC before, @makemesmart, but it is certainly very interesting. Yes, for sure in this day of increasing budgetary challenges, colleges and universities, especially those with low yield #s, have to look carefully at revenue streams. But for many of the top schools, which may be the target of the internationals who can afford to buy pirated tests online and/or fly to the US to take a standardized test, they may be less likely to target those other schools.
@FrustratedDad - the scores of the other students who took the test on the same day as your child don’t really affect your child’s score. Equating is done prior to test administration (watch: The “curve” for the August '18 test will be identical to that of the October '17 international–because it’s the same test). This isn’t speculation; there is ample data from past administrations, including recycled exams.
@marvin100 is this curve “middle of the road”, hard etc?
I don’t know, but I’m pretty convinced that it all evens out in the wash.
Curving and equating tests aren’t quite the same, but they do end up “smoothing” scores.
@Center If what I saw was accurate, it’s similar to other scoring scales from last fall.
Here is a copy of the complaint:
https://www.classaction.org/blog/class-action-lawsuit-alleges-aug-2018-sat-test-was-duplicate-of-oct-2017-test-in-asia
^The complaint also names ETS for “developing and administering” the SAT, which comes from ETS’s website. I wonder what the odds are that we will get to find out the precise role of ETS in the current SAT.
When I called the Harvard admissions office, a counselor told me it’s best if I re-took the test.
What exactly did you ask them?
@nerdmd
I am assuming you are a domestic student who took the 8/25 SAT and you are implying Harvard does not trust the test result of this SAT when you called them?! Please clarify what you asked and how the counselor answered. Thank you.
“… A class-action lawsuit was just filed in U.S. District Court in Florida by the father of a student who took the SAT on Aug. 25. Students reported the test included questions that had appeared on a 2017 SAT administered in Asia and that had been put on social media … The suit does not name the student or father but seeks restitution in an unspecified amount for anyone affected in the same way. It asks that any financial awards be determined at trial, and that attorney fees and costs be paid by the College Board and ETS. It says the plaintiff’s child is a high school student who took the SAT in St. Petersburg, Fla., where the family lives, and it cost $64.50 to take it.” …
@Dave_Berry - yes, 52 comments ago someone linked to an article about the lawsuit, and later someone linked to the suit itself.