<p>SAT-optional Bates College has been conducting a long-term study comparing students who submit SAT scores with those who do not. It was in the news again last month.</p>
<p>Basically, the study finds very little difference in outcomes for students who do submit SAT scores.</p>
<p>It seems that critics of standardized testing have been using these results to support their position. Bates is probably happy to find justification for its SAT-optional status. They argue that you don't need test scores to predict college success. However, I have not seen any evidence that non-submitters actually have lower SAT scores. You would think that the non-submitters have lower scores but this is unproven.</p>
<p>Furthermore, how do you reconcile the Bates results with the fact that there is a very high correlation between graduation rates and average SAT scores? The correlation is generally above +.75 depending on which institutions you include in your sample.</p>
<p>I think there must be a flaw in the Bates study.</p>