Use of Standardized Tests in Higher Education

Link: Faculty Role in Admissions


There has been an long standing debate regarding the use of standardized test and their ability to predict post-secondary education performance. This article examines the use of standardized testing and urges faculty and administration to consider "test-optional" admissions. The author states, "family income, gender, and race predict test scores more powerfully than test scores predict college grades." Many faculty and administration worry that changing to a "test-optional" policy will lower admission standards. However, the article cites research demonstrating that it actually raises standards:


"Wake Forest University went test-optional three years ago, and since then we’ve seen first-year students from the top 10 percent of their high school class jump from 65 percent in 2008 to 83 percent this year. Pell Grant recipients have doubled. Our student body is more racially and socioeconomically diverse than ever before. Library usage is up, and classroom discussions are reportedly livelier than before."

What are others thoughts on the use of standardized testing? Are they discriminatory or useful? How can colleges and universities that do not make the change to 'test optional' use standardized tests in a more equitable manner?