Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

New education plan: Take the “tricky vocabulary” out of the SAT exam (Because English is hard)
Hotair ^ | 03/07/2014 | Jazz Shaw

Posted on 03/07/2014 6:55:44 AM PST by SeekAndFind

Global observers have been sounding the klaxons for some time now when it comes to the American education system. We’re falling behind all of the smart countries, slowly sinking into a comfortable swamp populated by obese couch potatoes who gaze into their smart phone screens with glazed over eyes. The kids simply aren’t doing well enough on the SATs and the future looks dismal indeed.

But this is ‘MERICA, people! We’re not going to take this lying down! If our kids aren’t doing well enough on the standardized tests, there’s a clear solution. We’ll make the tests easier.

The organization that administers the SAT college entrance exam is adopting some big changes including a new scoring system, an optional essay and getting rid of hard vocabulary.

The College Board, which runs the widely used academic skills test, is changing the scoring system from a 2,400 point max back to the 1,600 points that it once used.

The SAT will continue to test reading, writing and math skills, but the essay portion will be optional. And difficult vocabulary will be replaced with words that students are more likely to use in college or in the workplace.

Somewhere out there, William F. Buckley is rolling over in his grave. But with that, pull up a chair, pour yourself a strong one, sit back and prepare for another installment in our ongoing series, “Jazz Shaw: My Lawn and You Getting Off of It.

Most of these changes simply make no sense. I’m not sure why they’re going back to a 1600 point system – which shouldn’t matter a bit – but then again, I don’t know why we changed it in the first place. But the essay is optional? I assume that’s just to help people score better if they’re … bad at writing? And by all means, let’s get rid of all the “hard words” because, really… who needs a powerful vocabulary in an age when Bazinga is in the Merriam Webster Dictionary?

But all of this might still leave the test a bit too difficult for today’s teens. Got anything else for us?

Another change will include granting students credit for guessing. Currently, points are deducted for incorrect answers.

Ooooookay. I think we can pretty much turn the lights out with that one. I took the SATs back in the 70′s when the maximum score was still 1600. To put it mildly, I was not exactly a rocket scientist. I managed to break 1340 which wasn’t terrible, but my cousin Rick has already scored 1580 the year before, so any chance at wide approbation among the family was pretty much out the window. But the point is that the test was hard. Everyone in school was sweating it out, and the ones who cared at all worked their butts off preparing for it.

Now we’re going to award points for guessing. Welcome to the new America.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: college; education; sat; vocabulary
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-25 last
To: SeekAndFind

Anybody for junking the SATs and using school performance instead?


21 posted on 03/07/2014 9:34:53 AM PST by golf lover (goingf)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Hard words? Hard like “sesquipedalianism” or hard like “adamantine?”


22 posted on 03/07/2014 9:39:25 AM PST by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind. ~Steve Earle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lonesome in Massachussets

Sister Mary Katherine is not pleased.


23 posted on 03/07/2014 9:45:17 AM PST by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind. ~Steve Earle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

No one seems to be mentioning it here or elsewhere, but the SATs have been dumbed down consistently (once in every 4-5 years) since the mid-60s. Tired of the “dumbed-down” accusation, the test-makers in the early late 80s tried a little PR. The tests weren’t being dumbed-down, but “re-centered.” The re-centering never stopped. And whaddyaknow—Fairfax County finally had two 1600-ers in the same year (think it was ‘93). We were never told how many more 1500+ scores resulted; but overall “achievement” definitely improved. Coincidence, no doubt.

Worse still, tho, is the predictor-of-college-success ruse. I can’t imagine that there’s a soul (ANY soul who seriously wants a degree) in the country who can’t get a degree in something. Of course, there are few takers in the math/engineering/sciences areas—even where scholarships abound. But who needs all that brain-exercise when there are oh-so-many other paths to sheepskin?

Yes, it would be right, in some circumstances, to say that the SATs (even the ACTs) are extraneous and obsolete. But if they’re eliminated, what’s left is the dumbed-down, re-centered, wholly subjective and local classroom grade.


24 posted on 03/07/2014 10:22:34 AM PST by Mach9
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Czarina of linguistics Rachel Jentael has been tapped to re-qrite the new improved SAT vocabulary test. Guaranteed 100% free of cursive.

Nigguh is to Crackuh as Skittle is to Drank


25 posted on 03/07/2014 1:29:03 PM PST by Organic Panic
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-25 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson