Testing Indicates If Problems Exist Don’t Ignore Warning We Should Face And Deal With These Important Facts.

No multiple-choice test provides the full measure of a student - not even the frequently refined Scholastic Aptitude Test. That’s why college admissions officers do treat SAT scores as only one of several factors in evaluating would-be students. Other factors include high school grades, extracurricular activities, recommendations and an applicant’s essay.

Nevertheless, the SAT is under attack. The criticism isn’t about academics, it’s about social engineering and pop psychology. Not enough African-Americans or Hispanic-Americans get high SAT scores. Some people aren’t good at test-taking. Some people’s gifts are in the relational, creative or intuitive realm, not academics.

Therefore the test ought to be dropped? Poppycock.

Poor test scores are a warning. About differing talents. And, about problems in our culture, our families and some of our schools. Reading, for example, is in decline in our country’s toxic, video-oriented youth culture. We should face and deal with these important facts, not unplug the warning light.

The test does what it is supposed to do. It provides a common academic yardstick, needed in a nation whose high schools vary in academic rigor. In fact, A’s from some schools signify less than A’s from others. How can colleges distinguish between a gifted B-plus student from a rigorous school and the 17 valedictorians from some wimpy school of self-esteem?

The SAT helps. It measures more than test-taking ability, though that too is important to a student’s ability to survive most colleges. The SAT asks questions about mathematics; students who give correct answers get good scores. The SAT asks students to engage in analytical reading; students who possess this essential skill get good scores.

As colleges admit weakly qualified students, a few might blossom but many struggle and flunk - at huge cost to them and the public. College dropout rates now exceed 50 percent nationally.

Not content to attack admission standards, the feel-good movement also has been attacking college academic standards. How far will we go in dumbing down academia and cheapening the value of diplomas, before we face and fix the real problems?

, DataTimes MEMO: For opposing view, see headline: Standardized tests not true measure

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN, EDITORIAL - From both sides CREDIT = John Webster For the editorial board