<p>It doesn't measure what you know or how intelligent you are but rather how good of a test taker you are.</p>
<p>Some kid I knew got a 1700, and after taking an SAT Test Preparation class a few weeks later, he then got a 2200 (or somewhere around there). </p>
<p>That just proves that the SAT Reasoning Test doesn't test your knowledge. </p>
<p>I don't understand why it is such a big deal in the admissions process.</p>
<p>I agree. I wish we had a national end of course exam in each subject that we could take. Or just devise a more precise scoring system for AP tests and use APs in place of SATs, SATIIs, ACT. That would make much more sense in my opinion than having APs AND a million other tests you have to take.</p>
<p>Plus, end of course exams could count as grades for high school too. I think this would really even out the difference between test scores and GPA/class rank. Now you have those lazy people who have bad GPAs, but score very well on standardized tests, which makes admitting them to college tricky. If the tests were factored into GPA, this would just be much more... even.</p>
<p>Of course, something like this will never happen in America. The second it is proposed by any lawmaker they will promptly be called a socialist and become the laughing stock of congress....</p>
<p>The SAT's purpose is not to test one's knowledge in a specific subject, rather it is designed to test aptitude (intellectual potential). Although people can improve on the SAT, it is a reflection of their ability to learn, grasp, and apply new concepts with ease; and not a shortcoming of the test. You see, many people who have an 1800 or whatever wouldnt be able to get 2200 with any amount of studying. If it was a "study test" as you are alleging, then why not study for it and see how you do. I'm not saying its a perfect aptitude test, it most certainly isn't, but it is a fairly accurate representation. I also know people who have improved tremendously, but that doesn't mean EVERYONE can.</p>
<p>The SAT is apparently the prediction of your college GPA, according to collegeboard.com</p>
<p>^ Nonsense :P</p>
<p>I can get a high A in AP Chem but can't seem to get above a 2150 on the SAT. If anything, AP scores are more indicative of how well you will perform in college.</p>
<p>^Agreed. The SAT's test stuff that is irrelevant for the most part ( 8th grade algebra) and is not the best indicator of future performance. AP tests are a lot better because they test knowledge.</p>
<p>" It tests rather how good of a test taker you are."</p>
<p>Hey bud, guess what you're going to be doing in college?</p>
<p>TAKING TESTS.</p>
<p>You answered your own question.</p>
<p>Stupid or not, it's required for almost all colleges and that's not going to change anytime soon.</p>
<p>If anything, I heard that the AP scores are the best predictors of your college GPA/performance. Out of all the test, these are the least "standardized" and are most like a final or midterm in college. Makes a lot of sense to me...</p>
<p>anyone can study like crazy for an AP exam and get a 5. likewise, anyone can work nonstop in college and get a good GPA. </p>
<p>NOT everyone can get a 2400. or even a 2000.</p>
<p>I agree, for instance, on the PSAT, if you miss 2, you have like a 73. I missed 2 questions last year for writing and got a 73. I missed 7 for reading and got a 66. Missed none for math and got an 80.</p>
<p>The SAT is meant to test your reasoning skills, it's not supposed to be a test that you study like crazy for, although we overachievers of the world have changed that.</p>
<p>If the SAT is so irrelevant or stupid, maybe you should think about why you're not doing well on it. Are you missing Algebra 1 questions or basic English?</p>
<p>that's just mean</p>
<p>I really feel like the SAT is a good indicator of your intelligence. Out of all the people who I've talked to, all the stupid ones tell me they got bad scores and all the smart kids tell me they got good scores. The SAT is NOT a good indicator of how well you will perform in college because some stupid people can get very, very good grades just by dedicating a lot of time to studying, and the same with intelligent people getting lazy and not getting that 4.0 GPA.</p>
<p>Now, do colleges want kids who are going to get 4.0 GPAs in college and have no real impact on the world, or do they want the brilliant kids who are going to get the 3.0 and go on to cure cancer?</p>
<p>Yes, yes, I know, most kids who are intelligent enough to be considered geniuses will, in fact, get the very good grades, but there has to be some who just don't take their studies seriously. . . yet.</p>
<p>AAAAAAAAA!</p>
<p>THAT'S WHY NO TOP COLLEGE (almost) WILL ACCEPT SOMEONE WITH A 2400 AND A C AVERAGE!</p>
<p>This debate is pointless. Your personal opinion regarding the SAT matters not as it is an OBJECTIVE test which is required and/or "recommended"/"considered" by almost every reputable institution in this country. Therefore, devote less time to arguing and more time preparing to raise your scores.</p>
<p>So?</p>
<p>I think some things, and I complain about them even if it won't really matter.</p>
<p>This thread probably took him 30 seconds to make.</p>
<p>I doubt it would make any difference on his score if he had taken those 30 seconds to study the SAT</p>
<p>quoted from coder
"The SAT is NOT a good indicator of how well you will perform in college because some stupid people can get very, very good grades just by dedicating a lot of time to studying, and the same with intelligent people getting lazy and not getting that 4.0 GPA.</p>
<p>Now, do colleges want kids who are going to get 4.0 GPAs in college and have no real impact on the world, or do they want the brilliant kids who are going to get the 3.0 and go on to cure cancer?"</p>
<p>nice. i agree haha. there are some kids in my school who just studies,and maintain average, and people think they're smart. im one of the lazy ones,not EXTREMELY bright, but with certainty,im one of the sharpest in my school, yet i rank 17/350, haha, i could've made top 3 or something if it wasn't my laziness.
i agree with you on this.</p>
<p>I bet you will take them no matter how much you hate them. LOL</p>
<p>This system will not change for at least a good ten years. </p>
<p>Some kids who ace it just love it. So I presume that you are kind of not doing well on it. If you end up hating everything that you cannot master, you will end up hating the life.</p>
<p>No matter how hard it is you will just have to take them if you really want to get into a good college. Then you will be off those tests for 4 years or rest of your life if not intending to pursue farther degrees. </p>
<p>Just my 2 cents.</p>
<p>"anyone can study like crazy for an AP exam and get a 5. likewise, anyone can work nonstop in college and get a good GPA. </p>
<p>NOT everyone can get a 2400. or even a 2000."</p>
<p>Well, (IMO) the score conversion for the SAT is drastically different from that of the AP. You say that anyone can study like crazy for an AP exam and get a 5, while not everybody can get a 2400 on the SAT. Maybe because for the AP exam, you can get like -20(or so) and still get like a 5. On the SAT however, you get -1 and your converted score will be down to like 780(or so)...I mean, if the "curve" or the conversion for SAT was comparable to the the AP conversion, then YES a lot of people would be getting 2400s. But CB makes the number "2400" out to be some kind of theoretical score that everybody should aim for but will never get (of course, some people have achieved this). </p>
<p>Having said that, I don't think SAT is worthless or "stupid"... it definitely tests your "aptitude". I would leave it as it is... I don't want it to get any harder, and I think the SAT (although it may not always indicate intellect and knowledge) does test your test-taking skills, like you said, as well as other things in a "standardized" way.</p>