<p>That is incorrect in the case of ETS. They have banks of questions that have been evaluated previously, and the ability to “assemble” a tests that is ABSOLUTELY identical in terms of scoring is almost limitless. As it stands, there are multiple variations of the test, including simply assembling the sections differently. The biggest issue is NOT in assembling the test and offering multiples versions but in managing the scoring and administration of the tests. </p>
<p>The reality is that everyone would be better served with a complete overhaul of the SAT and ACT. The multiple administrations on Saturday, Sundays, and School Day SAT are becoming a nightmare. Although this will not happen, the best solution would be to flip the SAT to the time allocated to the AP and have the Saturdays open for visits to CAT test centers for new versions of the AP. The SAT should be a mult-day test combining the current SAT and a couple of Subject Tests with very limited mulligan possibilities. </p>
<p>Within the US states, time zone differences can be accounted for by having the test start at the same UTC time in all of the US. E.g. starting at 2pm eastern time, would mean starting at 8am in Hawaii.</p>
<p>It may be more difficult with additional US territories like Guam, or international locations outside the Americas. But then they can develop three different sets of tests for any given day, with each of the three sets covering about 8 hours’ worth of time zones administered simultaneously.</p>
<p>as Capt. Renault might say, “I’m shocked, shocked to find that [cheating] is going on in here…” </p>
<p>btw: cheating was the primary reason that CB dropped Score Choice the first time that they offered it (and it why top schools [air-brush quote] require [air brush quote] all scores.</p>
<p>The CB’s efforts (or show efforts) against cheating also seem to cause a lot of collateral damage to those who did not cheat, even if they are not all that effective in deterring or catching actual cheaters. For example, a recent AP test administration where a minor irregularity in desk spacing was found (but no actual cheating was found or alleged) resulted in many students’ AP scores being canceled, resulting in college frosh course placement being disrupted for many students. Some could not take the offered make-up date tests, and others were expecting to know the scores early enough to sign up for their college courses during the summer.</p>
<p>It’s not just a problem with international students. In CA the competition and pressure is intense to get into the top to mid tier UC publics. Kids have to have stellar grades and a great holistic application. Some of them succumb to the temptation to cheat their way in.</p>
<p>Pressures and cheating do indeed exist in the United States. It is a given that the occasional scandal that erupts every once in a while in the US is the tip of the iceberg. This said, it is not hard to identify the pockets of pressure and cheating in certain zones of the US. And … the overlap in populations with foreign countries. Things do not happen by accident as there are pipelines between the donut shops and bible schools that are doubling as SAT centers. No real surprises! </p>
<p>The problem with the international centers is that the cheating is hardly accidental. It is organized on a vast scale that permeates almost everyone interested in studying in the US. And, if they are gulty of seizing the opportunities to cheat, the culpability of ETS and TCB is equal or greater. Without the recycling of past tests, which is a despicable practice, the biggest loophole would be closed. </p>
<p>If TCB was interested in equality, perhaps they should unveil the new tests abroad, and recycle the international tests for a couple of years in the US. Leveling the playing field in an interesting way, that is! ;)</p>
<p>It’s not that they don’t have the money lying around to make additional unique tests. In 2010, the latest year for which I could find numbers, the College Board had revenue of $660 million with a $66 million surplus. </p>
<p>Executives at the organization earn salaries far in excess of non-profits with comparable profits. </p>
<p>Given the huge surpluses they run annually, and their executive compensation, the CB has been called nonprofit in name only. </p>
<p>And why is it the “infamous” Bob Schaefer?</p>
<p>The available evidence indicates that the tests are weak in predicting college or life success. The SATs are mainly good at predicting how you will do on the SATs.</p>
<p>Infamous is the appropriate term to define him and his agenda of profiteering and self-promotion. He is cut from the same cloth as parasites a la Lloyd Thacker. </p>
<p>I am no fan of The College Board as many of its practices are subpar, if not obnoxiously so. Yet, attacking the SAT without considering its benefits is silly. FairTest is not about fairness.</p>
<p>And this is not limited to SAT or TOEFL: Chinese (and, to a lesser extent, Indian) kids are at a disadvantage in American physics PhD programs because they use many of the same techniques used for SAT cheating on the subject GRE tests.</p>
<p>^^Don’t know enough about either to have an oponion, but this Bates study presents compelling evidence that SAT scores are superfluous to predicting academic success. The main difference between Bates test submitters and non-submitters was in graduate school admissions–because the undergraduate non-submitters had to take a standardized test again. Few GRE, MCAT, LSAT schools, if any, exist. I’ve noticed most of the test optional schools are small, and able to give each application more attention. For large universities, the SAT saves time and labor.
<a href=“20-year Bates College study of optional SATs finds no differences | News | Bates College”>http://www.bates.edu/news/2005/10/01/sat-study/</a></p>
<p>The PSAT is more like the gaokao in setup (few chances to take it; only available in the US). Maybe not surprising then that more schools have full-tuition scholarships for NMS students than for students with high SAT scores.</p>
<p>And don’t forget, CB is comprised of member colleges. If the colleges want a different test, more security, they’ll demand it. But if they don’t…</p>
<p>^^ Yes, it usually forgotten that the College Board is owned by its members, and those members are the universitiesQ For information on the finances, one only needs a guidestar account. Or read occasional attacks/reports such as this one:</p>
<p>But heck, how could an organization where its members are used to earn large and perhaps excessive salaries and enjoy uncounted benefits take adverse positions in defining the pay one of their most visible leaders? And, it could be worse if the College Board had borrowed a few pages of the playbook of Sallie Mae. As far as I know, Gaston would not have been able to purchase his own golf course as the thievery at Sallie Mae allowed its top dog to do! Gaston’s take was a pittance compared to the ones who enjoyed quasi-governmental positions. </p>
<p>It just goes with the terrain as everything that has an academic overtone reeks of abuses and excessive pay scales. The higher and more important you go … the bigger the abuses are. And they do not have to win football games! </p>
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