A revised SAT being developed by the College Board and psychologist Robert Sternberg produces smaller test score gaps across racial groups and can help colleges achieve diversity without using affirmative action, its developers claim. The test, which aims to measure creative and practical skills as well as memory and analytical ability, was recently field-tested and the results were better at predicting college success than the current SAT, Sternberg says. The new test is meant to augment the SAT, however, not replace it. College admissions offices have always defended their use of the SAT by explaining that the scores of high school seniors are correlated with the grades they will receive in their freshman year of college. If the new test does a better job of predicting freshman GPA while also boosting racial diversity, it's likely that admissions offices will welcome its use. A more critical reaction is expected from those who believe that what the current SAT measures - vocabulary, analytical ability, etc., - is more important than creative and practical skills, and from those who prefer tests focused on curricular mastery to those that appraise aptitude per se.
"SAT revision passes first test," UPI, February 11, 2003