I recently learned that the SAT's have been changed. Some of the changes are listed below (from the Collegeboard.com website), but I was especially shocked to learn that they changed the grading scale from 1600 being a perfect score, to I believe 2400 or something along those lines. In addition, there is a written composition (essay) part of the exam now.

Although this doesn't affect me, as I'm a 3rd year college student, I thought it was interesting. You can't say you got a 1500 on your SAT's and be considered smart anymore, lol. A 1500 now means you're a dumb-ass I heard from a co-worker that they made the SAT easier, because scores were too low. I think that's ridiculous.

I don't have any kids yet, so I am curious to hear from parents. Is it just me or are more and more kids these days having trouble learning? Is the school system in America getting worse or better on average? I am concerned that maybe we are lowering standards too much. After all, America isn't exactly high on the list of countries with top-notch schooling. Just look at the astounding number of people who can't write, or even use the English language correctly. Mathematics is another weakpoint.

i graduated from HS when they started talking about all these changes.....03 baby what what lol
And I think the fact that they dont wanna hold kids back and they just wanna move them up to the next grade might have something to do with it...I know they HATE holding kids back here

These days everyone is supposed to be "special" we're not allowed to have any losers. And when a school tries to flunk a kid, parents show up with lawyers. So it just isn't worth it for the schools to flunk anyone.

Anyway, nothing wrong with the SAT changes - harder math especially was a long time coming. But sure, to the question you asked about schooling getting worse, yeah.

I just don't see how anyone can benefit from passing students who don't deserve to be passed.

^^Exactly. In the end you set the child up for failure.

The new SAT test is now 4 hours long. Why does there need to be a standardized test like this is my question. Why can't schools just teach properly. 4 hours! can you imagine!

I have a very strong opinion about the college board.

The old SAT is in no way a measure of aptitude. It's a test on how well you can take their test, and yet it's used to measure your analytic abilities, and one of the major determining factors of college acceptance? Consider that this one test has just about as much weight as your performance over four years of highschool.

B. S.

The college board is an institution put in place to make money. It costs $41.50 to take the SAT today. Most students take it at least twice. In 2002 it was estimated that 16 million students were enrolled in college. The number has grown since then. Pretty much all of these students have taken the SAT to even apply to college or scholarships (neglecting those who've taken the ACT, or special cases). If you do the math, you can see there's a lot of money to be made in this.

Furthermore, it costs $80 to take an AP test. Some schools require you to purchase their $30 financial aid analysis in order to be eligible for money, despite the fact that there is a FREE federal program that serves the same purpose.

But this new SAT? It's no better than the last.

I dont like the SATs

Wow, took the SAT's twice back in '93 & '94. Highest score I got was 1200 :?.

With all the changes they are making, I'm not sure if it's a good thing or not. The way I see it now, public schools are like mills. They'd rather just push the students along down the line whether they have a basic comprehension of the english language or not, or whether they know how to do long division, or whether they know what are the closest neighboring countries to the United States.

Yeah, and the whole lawsuit bit, I think it's ridiculous that so many people in America in the current generation aren't taking responsibilities for themselves or for raising their children anymore. They'd rather sue the system to get their way, or win the money that inevitable hurts the other well-deserving children of funds that can further their education :x . Great way to set an example for your kids, dumb-lazy-parents. (If you can't get what you want: Sue!) *gets off soap box*

Teaching has nothing to do with testing. You can teach all you want, but you need a way to test and compare the students, at the end of the day. You have to have some type of standardization system, or the students cannot be compared. Whether its tests, essays, naked twister, SOMETHING has to compare each the others.