Wealthy students are 13x more likely to ace the SAT. The test turns 100 this year

In June 1926, the SAT exam was first administered to 8,000 high school students hoping to attend prestigious universities. The SAT has undergone numerous changes over the past 100 years, including its administration methods and subject matter. In 2000, around 280 colleges and universities allowed applicants to apply without submitting SAT or ACT scores, resulting in approximately 86% of institutions currently being test-optional.

While the SAT's accuracy in measuring students' academic abilities remains a subject of debate, numerous studies suggest that higher-income students tend to achieve higher scores. This is primarily due to the test's cost, access to tutors and prep classes, and the wealthier background of many well-funded schools. As a professor of education, the author emphasizes the importance of understanding the SAT's history to better comprehend the ongoing debate surrounding it.