It is likely a lot easier to adapt AP content to open-book testing than it is to adapt SAT content to open-book testing.
Additionally, AP scores are very coarse-grained (only five possible scores), while SAT scores are very fine-grained, so there is less tolerance for testing and scoring inconsistency with the SAT. A format change in the SAT would require making a concordance table, but that would be difficult to do without any time to do any pretesting of the new versus old format.
@ucbalumnus , I don’t work for ACT or College. Board. We are all speculating. But I am making an educated guess that the scenario @Mwfan1921 describes can be applied to an at home ACT/ SAT. My own kid took a proctored test at home, not open book. Proctor U has been around for a while.
I believe that given the huge amount of money these companies stand to lose, they are going to make it a priority to administer these tests, whether at home, by offering multiple weekend sittings, small school groups on weekdays, or by whatever means necessary.
They are in danger of becoming obsolete, and they don’t want to see that happen, do they? ACT especially has more to lose in this game than College Board. Everything is different now. I suspect many places will become testing centers. I suspect home tests will become available, I suspect they will make a concordance table. All of these problems are surmountable when $353 million (ACT) is at stake.
At any rate, it’s very clear that these tests will go online, and very soon. I am personally on the lookout for any online versions I can find. ACT has a complete online version of the test for international students to practice. I’m sure there must be an online SAT practice test somewhere.
ETA. @cinnamon1212 , you might well be right. However, many states still require their students to take the SAT or ACT in high school, so if states decide they no longer need these tests, that might be the final nail in the coffin.
@Lindagaf I agree with your thoughts that there is too much money at stake for the College Board not to try to have the tests go. That said, with so many colleges trying test optional this year, they may find they don’t need the scores after all and this may be the beginning of the end for test requirements. Time will tell!
My D21 was supposed to have the ACT test for free in school with all juniors in April. It was cancelled and per the counselor will not be rescheduled in fall. It also sounded like they may do away with free ACT testing for juniors because of funding anyway. I signed D up for June ACT and there seemed to be plenty of options in our area still available.
I know this is the dream of every parent with a son or daughter with low SAT/ACT scores. However, if the College Board was ever to go away, top colleges would require their own tests. Students would then be required to take tests at each school. Be careful what you wish for.
I think if the testing companies can find a way to test, they will. I don’t see how they can afford not to.
@austinmshauri The thing is, the colleges have to accept the test, the college board just can’t impose it on them. The ACT section tests were announced months ago, and I have heard anything about what colleges are doing with those.
True, but many colleges are accepting a 45 minute AP test for college credit and/or placement. Same as before. I haven’t heard any school say they are going to change their AP policy (but to be fair I expect some faculty committees haven’t talked about this yet).
I have not heard of any schools that superscore the ACT say they won’t accept section tests. All schools will have to address that issue this summer, but prior to covid-19 they were busy with admissions season, and well, now, covid-19.
Well, College Board has updated their cite to announce the June SAT has been cancelled, but they’re planning to add dates in the fall. Conspicuously absent is any mention about online at-home testing.
They do mention a digital SAT taken at home:
I stand corrected! I still don’t know how they’ll cut out cheating, how they’ll reconcile it with the non digital version.
Add Va Tech and Tulane to the TO list:
https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/local-news/virginia-tech-to-implement-test-optional-admissions-process-for-class-of-2025/
Test Optional is the wave of the future. More colleges have been going that route in the past few years. This pandemic will only increase the number of colleges, faster.
Can’t say I don’t love it.
I’m disappointed that the June SAT is canceled - I wish there would have been some attempts to create set-ups with many smaller groups (like 10 kids in a classroom).
My daughter was planning on taking the test in May. She has been on Khan academy for months studying hard. We could afford for her to take the test once so she had to make it good.
Now since Covid 19 she cannot study for the SAT as she has to make choices time wise and she is prioritizing finishing her school classes. She has an immune compromised sibling so we will also have to self isolate through the flu season. She has to help with the 24/7 care because the care workers will no longer come to our home. (some debate whether their work is an essential service- but I digress) We live outside of the US, but my daughter is American. If the test is administered online she can take it from home but it will no longer represent her ability. Also she’s a 4.0 student, but her school has no IB or AP classes which makes her less competitive too.
She is very disappointed as she sees her prospects to study in the US diminish, but the reality is lots of things in life is unfair. I never saw the SAT/ ACT system as an equitable way to judge whether a student will be successful in college. She (like many others) was never going to be able to “super score” and does not have access to tutors. She will have to travel VERY early in the morning to get to the testing centre (it won’t be at her home school in a familiar place). Our reality is that she just can’t compete to get into those top schools that she aspires. Not that she isn’t smart or talented enough, but it’s literally impossible due to limited access and our family circumstance. I imagine many people feel that way, but least she has many other options at home.
So, in my opinion testing optional will mean that some incredibly smart hard working youth will have a greater opportunity to access college. Even if it’s just for 2021.
It’s really not a good idea to have a group of even ten people together for three hours during a pandemic, six feet apart or not. And it’s just not practical in some places. I live in NYC, and as soon as the April ACT was canceled every testing facility immediately filled for the June session.
St. Olaf is now test optional:
https://wp.stolaf.edu/news/st-olaf-goes-test-optional-for-admissions
@hillybean I wonder if ACT testing ability varies by area. I signed D21 up for June 13 test and many sites in area available to choose.
I just got an email from Cornell saying that they are “suspending ACT/SAT testing requirement for applicants next year”
I saw that about Cornell as well. I think Cornell dropping tests is a very big deal and as a result we might see a lot of other peer institutions doing the same. The other ones I saw recently were Lafayette, Richmond, Macalaster and Colgate. All of them great schools.