The Test-Optional Zombie: Is It a Good Idea to Ignore Relevant Information?

• In Event: Enhancing Validity and Reliability in Educational Measurement and Assessments

Abstract

A common public opinion is that admission test scores such as the SAT and ACT serve as a barrier for underrepresented minorities, keeping them out of prestigious colleges. Thus, giving applicants the option of whether to submit test scores seems to remove this barrier. However, a few highly selective universities such as Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, NYU, Cal Tech, and MIT recently reversed their test-optional policies. Why? Evidence, often absent or ignored, resurfaced. Data gathered through the Academic Research Committee revealed the SAT scores of applicants who had not submitted them as part of the test-optional policy. Such students scored lower than students who did submit them. More importantly, test scores predicted success in college better than high school grades.

Authors

• Daniel H. Robinson, University of Texas - Arlington

• Howard Wainer, Independent