Benchmark+9

Benchmark (Group 1 Section 14) Summary: The SAT Reasoning Test is given to high school students, usually juniors and seniors, who are applying to college. It is given for a fee of $43 for students in the United States. The score system is from 600 to 2400, with the math, critical reading, and writing sections combined. The test’s purpose is mainly to be a supplement to other factors college admissions look at when accepting students.

Key Manifestations: The test has changed greatly since it was first administered in 1901 as the Scholastic Achievement Test. It was used by mainly colleges in the north-eastern part of the United States. In 1941, the College Board changed the name to the Scholastic Aptitude Test. In 1990, the name was once again changed to the SAT, with the letters meaning nothing.

When created, the mean score for each section was made to be 500, with a standard deviation of 100. However, the mean score eventually dropped, and in 1995 was re-written. Probably the biggest change was made in 2005 with the addition of the writing section. It is now called the SAT Reasoning Test, and has been given since March 12, 2005.

Key Personnel: Richard C. Atkinson: In 2001 made a speech to the American Council on Education, while the president of the University of California. He urged the dropping of the SAT Reasoning Test as a college admission requirement. This led to the College Board’s promise to restructure the test by March of 2005.

Reason why it is a benchmark:

The SAT Reasoning Test is a major part of the college admission process. When it was first created, people probably did not realize how important it would become. It quickly spread throughout the Northeast and is now used nation-wide, and even in some other countries. It has also led to the creation of the ACT, the SAT’s biggest competitor in tests. Since it is used in most colleges, it gives students an idea as to where they have a change of getting in, because colleges give the range of SAT scores that they will accept. There have been different companies made, with their focus being tutoring for the SAT’s, such as KAPLAN. This shows how essential the SATs have become to furthering education, from high school to college.

Links: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/about/SATI.html