ACT Aspire? SAT changes? Future ACT changes? Why?

Parent Cafe
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I am curios why there is so little discussion on the radical changes in HS and college level testing. Now the explore/plan i
no longer, it looks as if the aspire is aspiring to be the next test leading up the ACT. I looked at the posted example tests and it seems much much different from the ACT.

Math (Early grades 5th grade) “Student thinks that the sum of 4.3 and 8.4 is 12.7 because 4 + 8 = 12 and 3 + 4 = 7. The student then adds 3.7 and 2.6 and gets 5.13 because… Identify the mistake in the students procedure and explain why this doesn’t always work.” It’s an essay problem. Not a difficult one but what is the point? I don’t have a problem with the essay math problems in theory but what a nightmare to score. Take a look at the science test and it gets very strange.

This leads me to think the ACT must also be going through revisions. The aspire tests states that it is a "anchored to the ACT scoring system. These questions aren’t the ACT we are familiar with…

My hope for my sons would be that the ACT would remain stable while the SAT changes were being shaken out. What is all the push to make all these changes right now? Is it common core? How do we with upcoming testers prepare our children for these changes.

http://www.discoveractaspire.org/pdf/2014_exemplar_actaspire_math.pdf

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I don’t know whether the ACT is or is not “going through revisions,” but the Aspire direction seems linked to Common Core standards. The point is (I think) that the ACT has always tried to parallel classroom skills, whereas the SAT has, in title, been an “aptitude” test of applied skills and is less “categorical” than the ACT, which separates by subject matter.

The new SAT is attempting to mimic the ACT more in the “category” aspect and --in my opinion-- in the difficulty aspect. I think the new SAT is ridiculously easy. I do not think it tests college readiness. I think the current SAT, as flawed as it is, is more “advanced” in vocabulary and in reading content. Every time I look at sample questions for the new SAT, they read like high school readiness more than college readiness. It will be ridiculously easy to score high on all the verbal sections.

I can’t answer your question about “why all the push,” as I’m not a member of those organizations. However, I think it was one lousy idea to begin the new SAT in the middle of an academic year. Very unfair to current sophomores. Collegeboard should have waited until fall of 2016 for roll out. It also makes the whole PSAT situation awkward.