INEZ writes:

I just wanted to add my experiences, as a private SAT prep teacher, to the discussion about the SAT scores. The SAT is not a valuable test; by this I mean the score a student receives on it does not correlate strongly with any substantial measurement of success or intelligence. That is not to say that there is NO correlation whatsoever between SAT scores and, say, academic success in college or IQ scores, but merely to say that there are many factors that correlate much more strongly with academic success, such as family composition or education level, or even grade point average in high school.

These numbers have been borne out by my experience. I have taught hundreds of SAT takers, and I can honestly say that the only skills required to do very well on the SAT are very basic reading and arithmetic, and a good understanding of the test itself (teaching this last part is what brings me the big bucks, so to speak). I have been able to take teens scoring in the bottom quintile and teach them to score in the top quintile. I have taught students who, by my measure, were among the least naturally gifted, and had them score very well. Similarly, I frequently have extremely bright students who score very poorly initially. I believe a commenter referred to those who score 750’s as “elite;” as someone who got 800’s in all three subjects now tested, I can tell you that they are not. Those who score above 700 simply “get the test” better than those who don’t.

Thank you for so many hours of enjoyable and thought-provoking reading.

Please follow and like us: