The SAT has changed since it debuted 100 years ago – but questions remain about its relevance
Wealthier students tend to score higher on the SAT than other groups of students, raising questions about how accurate of a barometer the test actually is.
In 1926, the SAT exam was first administered to 8,000 high school students hoping to attend prestigious universities. Since then, the test has undergone numerous changes, including a shift towards making it test-optional at around 86% of colleges and universities. The SAT's history reveals that while it may accurately measure students' academic strengths for some, concerns about its fairness and relevance persist.
Wealthier students, who can afford tutoring and preparation, tend to have higher scores, and the exam's cost also creates a barrier. A professor of education highlights that understanding the SAT's past can help contextualize the ongoing debate about its role in college admissions.
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