Why are SAT tests given?

[uberpenguin]

Not that I know, but it's fun to pretend and sound like I do. ^_^

Comments

[darth_cabal]

You're probably right, and that's a depressing look at society. You're also on the intelligent side of the archaic vocabulary hurdle, so try not to overturn that particular bit of The System until I'm done taking advantage of it, hm? ^_

[uberpenguin]

Garlic bread.

Duh.

[kayfin]

::steals garlic bread::

What is an SAT?

[sunkist]

Its one of those test-your-knowledge tests that we have to take in order to get into college. The higher the score, the better chance of getting into a good college.

[uberpenguin]

...not to mention flawed and ethnocentric.

[kayfin]

Wow.. sounds even more like the HSC and UAI.

Is it also strongly biased towards certains schools of learning, whilst leaving others (...say.. creative & practical) out in the cold?

ie: you may be an agricultural genius, but you are graded as 'dumber' against a mediocre math/english student.

or... You may be the next Da Vinci, but english isn't your first language, so you are scheduled for a life of working at the railway station doodling on a note pad and making indecipherable anouncements about train delays.

oh sorry, I forgot. This is your soapbox isn't it?

[darth_cabal]

BYOSB = Bring Your Own Soapbox, Bitch. :-P

You are quite right. The SAT tests only language skills (especially vocab) and math, and is really only taken by those who intend to go to college. The better colleges require further testing. SAT II tests are more specialized, but are still concentrated in academic areas like writing, biology, latin, etc. They don't get into things like agriculture, jewelry making, performance arts, etc.

Actually, I enjoyed taking the SATs. I love standardized tests, and they really can tell colleges about a person. Unfortunately, the tests are taken far more seriously than their flawed state should allow. Even though many colleges realize that SAT scores are not the most important thing, they are under constant pressure to ensure that their student body has high SAT scores because that gets them a higher ranking in ... well, college ranking publications, such as US News and World Reports Annual college issue and the Princeton Guide to the 300 and whatever best colleges.

[kayfin]

Sounds like the HSC & UAI.

Only easier.

[dragonwingz]

No, you know what's easier? A levels. Fucking Bristish. ::seethes (into a puddle - watch me, it can be done

[kayfin]

Jade darling, he's in the chilly season. We on the other hand, are not. ::active melting:: I think we would enjoy an ice cold beer far more than he would.

I say we drink his beer for him on Saturday, and take a photo of it for him.

Otherwise the beer would probably go flat before he got here to drink it. Can't waste good beer like that in the hot season.

[dragonwingz]

Oh! Right you are!
::pencils in diary...."*drink Ben's beer... capture moment for posterity."::
Mmmmmmm, beeeeeer. I can't wait. ::clinkclink::

[uberpenguin]

The really scary test is the GRE Subject Test.

I fear it.

Muchly.

[darth_cabal]

Why? Is it way easy or way hard. If you say way hard, I will be astonished.

[uberpenguin]

I've heard so many horror stories it keeps me up at night. The standard GRE sounds easy enough. It's the English Subject Test that rankles the nerves.

People I know to be way smarter than I have come back saying stuff like, "I just had to close my eyes and guess at some points."

::shudder::

[dragonwingz]

I don't know what this GRE test is, for I am Australian and therefore clever enough not to have to do things like that. Care to enlighten me?

[kayfin]

Graduate Record Examination.

I think it's like the UAI/HSC of University Graduates in the USA, and it helps you get into Grad School.

Or maybe it stands for Geriatric Resources and Equiptment.

I'm not sure which is more applicable in this context.