1. The SAT® Beyond Admission Midwest ACAC May 21, 2012
The SAT®: Beyond Admissions
This presentation will be a high-level look at the SAT, and the functions it serves across the enrollment process: from recruitment and admissions decisions providing valuable data to understand how students persist. 
We’ll also study what the exam measures, how it’s scored, and how scores correlate to first-year GPA.

2. The College Board’s mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity.
We are a not-for-profit membership organization committed to excellence and equality in education.
As a not-for-profit membership organization, the College Board and its programs (including the SAT) are backed by a diverse group of institutions with broad educational experience. The College Board’s membership includes more than 5,700 institutions: secondary schools, colleges and universities located in more than 50 countries throughout the world.

3. Question of the Day – May 21

5. 10b_1585_SATforRAS
Introduction
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Developed more than 80 years ago as a tool to help democratize higher education access for all students, the SAT ® has grown to become the world’s most widely used college entrance exam. The SAT continues to evolve and improve to meet the needs of a dynamic education landscape. However, the SAT has always served the primary mission of the College Board: to connect students to college opportunity and success.
How has the SAT evolved?
The SAT evolved from the original College Board college entrance exams. Founded in 1900, the College Board was organized to facilitate the successful transition of secondary school students to higher education. Prior to those tests, each American university had a separate entrance test.
Harvard had one, Princeton had one, Yale, etc… Universities got together and developed one standardized exam.
The SAT was created to give equal access to college for all students, and it’s clearly doing so.
More than ever, SAT takers reflect the diversity of students in our nation’s classrooms, something we’re very proud of.
Forty-five percent intended to be the first in their families to go to college.
Twenty-five percent of the class of 2010 reported that either a language other than English, or English and another language, was spoken at home.

6. SAT® Reflects the diversity of the nation’s classrooms
SAT participation closely reflects the distribution of minority students graduating from U.S. public schools.
US Public School
SAT Takers
Graduates
84% of SAT Takers report attending public school
Key Message: SAT participants reflect the diversity present in our nation’s classrooms.
Public US SAT Test Takers only.
The racial and ethnic distribution of US Public School SAT test-takers reflects the racial and ethnic distribution in US Public School Graduates.
Note that the categories “Other” and “No Response” are not captured in the U.S. Public School Graduates data from WICHE.
Source: 2011 College-Bound Seniors Total Group Report; WICHE (2008)

7. What is the SAT®? A Measure of College Readiness
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What is the SAT®?
A Measure of College Readiness
The SAT evaluates the cognitive tools necessary to succeed in college and beyond, including the ability to:
Think critically
Solve problems
Communicate effectively
A Predictor of College Outcomes
Is a valid predictor of meaningful college outcomes on a student’s path to a college degree, including:
Freshman Year GPA
2nd, 3rd and 4th year GPAs
College Retention
Key Messages:
The SAT serves as both a measure of students’ college readiness and as a predictor of college outcomes.
Measure of College Readiness: measures what students have learned in school, and how well they apply that knowledge.
It’s based on the subjects and skills that students study in high school classrooms every day.
It’s developed by teachers and educators.
Periodic curriculum surveys validate that the test measures what’s learned in high school and what’s expected in college.
Predictor of College Outcomes: A powerful and valuable predictor of meaningful college outcomes.
Helps colleges in their enrollment goals
Predicts student performance and retention from first year through graduation (graduation studies in development)
Helps colleges identif specific areas of strength and opportunities for improvement to support the college enrollment and placement.

8. Every SAT® Knowledge and Skills Topic is represented in the Common Core State Standards
The knowledge and skills covered on the SAT are directly linked to what students are learning in the classroom
SAT Critical Reading Knowledge and Skills Topics
SAT Mathematics
Knowledge and Skills Topics
SAT Writing
Knowledge and Skills Topics
Determining the Meaning of Words
Author’s Craft
Reasoning and Inference
Organization and Ideas
Understanding Literary Elements
Number & Operations
Algebra & Functions
Geometry & Measurement
Data, Statistics & Probability
Problem Solving
Representation
Connections
Communication
Manage Word Choice and Grammatical Relationships Between Words
Manage Grammatical Structures Used to Modify or Compare
Manage Phrases and Clauses in a Sentence
Recognize Correctly Formed Sentences
Manage Order and Relationships of Sentences and Paragraphs
Key Messages:
The content on the SAT is directly linked to what students are learning in high school.
Additional Information:
Developing rigorous, evidence-based and internationally benchmarked college and career readiness standards in English language arts and mathematics is the goal of the Common Core State Standards initiative.
The College Board completed a study that examined the relationship between the Common Core State Standards and the SAT®.
This slide outlines the skills and knowledge topics that are tested on the SAT.
This study shows that each and every one of the SAT skills and knowledge topics is represented in the Common Core State Standards.
This means that many (not all) of the content areas and topics students learn in high school to prepare them for college and career are covered and assessed on the SAT.
In addition, states and districts adopting the Common Core State Standards can be confident that their students will be acquiring the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed on the SAT.
Source: Vasavada, N., Carman, E., Hart, B. Luisier, D.; Common Core State Standards Alignment: readiStep™, PSAT/NMSQT® and SAT; College Board, 2011

9. Test Scores SAT Critical Reading Math Writing (Subscores) CR 200–800
(Essay 2–12 )
[1/3 of writing score]
(Multiple-choice 20–80)
[2/3 of writing score]
Students receive 2 writing sub-scores. The essay will contribute approximately 1/3 to the writing score and the multiple choice questions will approximately contribute 2/3.
The highest combined SAT score is 2400 instead of 1600.

10. Scoring Holistic Scoring of Essays
Two English teachers score essays on 1 to 6 scale
Third reader when they disagree (about 2% of time)
Quick, supportive read for impression of whole essay, compared to Scoring Guide and range-finder essays
Do not focus on grammar, spelling, essay length
Correction for Guessing on Multiple Choice Questions
+1 point for correct answers; - ¼ point for incorrect answers
Avoids rewarding wild guessing (on average, you’d guess correctly 1 out of 5 times, gaining 1 point, losing four ¼-points, netting nothing)
Scanning at Pearson; scoring at ETS
Every answer sheet scanned twice, acclimatized in between
Equating, to make sure scores mean the same thing from test to test

11. The SAT writing section is driving a new focus on writing.
A survey of teachers tells us that…
76% of English teachers report an increased focus on writing.
75% of English teachers reported that students’ writing skills have improved.
53% of those surveyed say the SAT writing test has helped drive this change.
We’re proud that the SAT writing section is also driving a new, more intense focus on writing.
In 2006, the College Board surveyed 5000 teachers and 800 administrators nationwide about the SAT writing section’s impact.
76% of English teachers report an increased focus on writing.
75% of English teachers reported that students’ writing skills have improved.
53% of those surveyed say the new SAT writing test has helped drive this change.
CONFIDENTIAL - INTERNAL USE ONLY

12. Good Writing Is Essential to College Success
Writing is an increasingly-necessary skill for high school, college and the world of work.
Like every other section of the SAT, the writing section tests what a student has learned in the classroom and how well they apply that knowledge.
The writing section requires students to think critically, articulate a coherent argument and express a point of view.
Good writing is a fundamental skill in high school, college, the professional world and life.
The College Board implemented the SAT writing section in 2005 to assess this critical skill.
As with all other sections of the SAT, the writing section tests what a student has learned in the classroom and how well they apply that knowledge.
Students learn and develop these skills in high school and can showcase their abilities on the writing section of the SAT.
CONFIDENTIAL - INTERNAL USE ONLY

13. Colleges and Universities Use the SAT…
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Colleges and Universities Use the SAT…
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The SAT ® is taken by high school students throughout the United States and the world. Colleges and universities use SAT scores:
As one of several factors to make admission decisions
As a check against grade inflation and variation in high school programs
For class placement and scholarship opportunities
Other admission factors include high school GPA (HSGPA), high school course rigor, essays, recommendation letters and essays. Surveys by NACAC and other organizations continually point to test scores as a “highly important” factor in admission.
Educational standards vary throughout the nation and the world; this is why the international standard the SAT sets is so important. The SAT scaled score provides a standardized and fair benchmark with a granular scale. It’s a common and objective standard for comparison of student success.
Students can use their SAT scores to connect to scholarship organizations (Scholarship Search), while colleges use them for certain kinds of merit awards.

14. Class of 2011 SAT Report
1,647,123 students in the class of 2011 took the SAT
National Average Scores (All Schools)
Critical Reading
Mathematics
Writing
Minnesota Average Scores
Critical Reading 593
Mathematics
Writing
(7% participation rate)

15. SAT Performance by Core Curriculum Participation
Core curriculum is defined by at least four years of English, and at least three years of mathematics, three years of natural science, and three years of social science and history.
The surest way to do well on the SAT is to get practice and take challenging courses.
One of the first ways that students can practice is by taking the PSAT. In the class of 2010, students who took the PSAT scored 51 points higher on the critical reading section than those who did not, 42 points higher on the math section, and 53 points higher in the writing section.
For that same class, students who took a core curriculum scored 51 points higher on the critical reading section than those who did not, 50 points higher on the math section, and 50 points higher in the writing section.
Reading
Math
Writing
Core Curriculum
518
531
509
Non-Core Curriculum
467
481
459
Difference
+51
+50
Reflects SAT takers in the class of 2010 who took the SAT through March 2010.

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Fairness
The SAT® is the most rigorously researched and designed standardized test in the world.
Every question goes through many internal and external reviews, including a sensitivity review to avoid concerns with:
Gender
Ethnicity/Race
Disabilities
Controversial topics like war, violence and politics
Every question is field-tested in 50 states and eliminated if students from different groups perform inconsistently.
The SAT has consistently proven valid across all subgroups, ethnicities, genders and socioeconomic groups. The SAT is a fair test because it is also the most rigorously researched and designed standardized test in the world.
Every single question is assessed and screened for potential bias.
New test questions are researched to ensure that students of equal ability perform the same on a test question, regardless of gender, race and ethnicity.
Each question goes through at least four content reviews and a sensitivity review to ensure the content is fair to all students.
Field tests are then conducted and analyzed to confirm that, in live testing situations, sub-group differences do not occur.
The Unscored Section
In addition to the nine scored sections of the SAT, there is one 25-minute section that ensures that the SAT continues to be a fair and valid test.
This unscored section is used to “try out” new questions for future editions of the test. It also ensures that scores on new editions of the SAT are comparable to scores on earlier editions of the test.
Including an unscored section on all exams is part of good standardized test design. Exams without a mandatory unscored section do not allow for as comprehensive pre-testing of questions. You will find the same technique used on the GRE and LSAT, for example.
This helps make the SAT one of the most rigorously tested exams in the US and ensures its fairness for students of all backgrounds, which is a primary objective of the College Board.

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Fairness
While score gaps among groups do exist, the differences in SAT® subgroup performance reflect the unfortunate inequities in educational opportunities nationwide. With regard to socioeconomic status, research shows that “SAT retains virtually all of its predictive power when SES is controlled.”
While there is a relationship between SAT scores and SES (correlation of .42) …
There is a stronger relationship between SAT scores and college grades (correlation of .47)
After controlling for SES, SAT scores are still a strong and effective measure for predicting first-year college performance (correlation = .44)
Unfortunately, subgroup score differences reflect inequities in American society and education.
The SAT subgroup differences reflect these educational and societal inequities.
Since the test measures what students have learned in school and how well they apply that knowledge, a test such as the SAT is going to reflect these differences. …
The SAT can’t undo a bad education or sub-par schools.
The College Board is deeply troubled by these inequities and has instituted a range of programs to strengthen K–12 education across the country. We are committed to excellence, equity and access.
Setting high standards for achievement is not the problem; the problem is addressing all the factors that impede achievement along the way.
University of Minnesota researchers examined claims that “the only thing the SAT predicts well is socioeconomic status”
“After controlling for SES the relationship between SAT scores and UC grades virtually disappears”
Analyzed validity data from 41 colleges, controlling for SES

18. Extensive external research confirms that the SAT ® is not biased
There is a substantial body of literature indicating that individual item bias has been largely mitigated in today’s admission test due to extensive external research and development of question items on both the SAT and ACT®.
NACAC Testing Commission Report
September 2008

19. College and University Enrollment Process
Every college and university engages in a series of activities to attract a strong class of college-bound students to meet its enrollment objectives.
Inspire
Search
Recruit
Admit
Yield
Enroll
Retain
Graduate
Outreach to community to support college aspirations; inform about institution
Recruit and pursue best qualified students
Select applicants for admission based on enrollment objectives
Send admission offers and financial aid awards; perform outreach activities
Enroll, register and place students
Manage and maintain student persistence
Research and identify potential college-bound students
Develop and manage alumni relationships
Most are familiar with the SAT® as one factor colleges and universities use to admit students.

20. College and University Enrollment Process
In fact, colleges and universities use the SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ to support enrollment goals at many steps throughout the journey.
Inspire
Search
Recruit
Admit
Yield
Enroll
Retain
Graduate
Valuable for college and university recruitment efforts
One of the most reliable and predictive factors in the college application process
Useful criteria to target scholarship awards and yield efforts
Supports colleges and universities to place students in their first-year classes
Consistent and strong predictors of college retention
Rich sources of student data that help colleges and universities target specific populations
The SAT and SAT Subject Tests are used by admission and enrollment officers to impact decisions throughout the enrollment process.

21. Search
The SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ are rich sources of student data that help colleges and universities target specific populations to meet enrollment goals.
A truly college-bound population
Students taking the SAT make a conscious and active decision to demonstrate their college readiness
Diverse populations
Geographic diversity: SAT students represent all 50 states and over 170 countries
Underrepresented minorities: over 40% of SAT takers in 2009 were from underrepresented minority backgrounds
Finer biographical and college interest distinctions
Through the SAT Student Data Questionnaire (SDQ), students share information about their background, personal interests and college interests
Students taking the SAT Subject Tests signal areas of academic interest and strength

22. Recruit
The SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ are valuable for college and university recruitment efforts.
Colleges and universities can:
Gauge the level of student interest
Students who send their SAT scores to a college or university (especially as juniors and sophomores) demonstrate a strong interest in that institution
Qualify their prospect pools
Use specific performance and SDQ information to segment populations of interest
Target students for specialized recruitment initiatives
Send invitations to visit the campus and/or participate in summer college programs
Provide additional information about the college and the application process
Set up student interviews and/or target high school visits

23. Admit
The SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ continue to be one of the most reliable and predictive factors in the college application process.
The SAT combined score (CR+M+W) is a strong predictor of college success comparable to four years of high school grades.
SAT scores provide a deeper understanding of how students might perform in college beyond high school GPA alone.
SAT Subject Tests provide additional academic measures that are highly predictive of college success.
Predictability of SAT Beyond GPA

24. High School Grades Shifting Over Time
Percentage of Students With GPA of A-, A or A+ Is Increasing
1990
1995
2000
2005
2009
2010
A+, A, A-
29%
34%
40%
41%
43%
44%
B+, B, B-
53%
50%
47%
46%
45%
C+, C, C-
18%
15%
12%
11%
10%
Grades Are Increasing*
1990
1995
2000
2005
2009
2010
Art and Music
3.61
3.68
3.74
3.75
3.76
English
3.08
3.19
3.26
3.30
3.37
3.39
Foreign/Classical Languages
3.06
3.15
3.22
3.31
3.33
Mathematics
2.91
3.01
3.07
3.11
3.14
3.16
Natural Sciences
3.00
3.12
3.20
3.23
3.25
3.27
Social Sciences/History
3.34
3.36
3.40
Grade Average for All Subjects
3.09
3.28
3.32
*Based on four-point system, where A=100
Note: 1990 GPAs reflect both SAT Subject Test-takers and SAT® takers. GPAs for reflect SAT® takers only.

25. Validity: Indication of First-Year Performance
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Validity: Indication of First-Year Performance
Correlation* of SAT® and High School GPA to First-Year College GPA
The SAT used in combination with HSGPA is the best predictor of first-year college performance (.64 correlation).
SAT scores predict first-year college GPA as well as HSGPA (.56).
Writing section is most predictive of all sections (.53).
Predictor
Correlation
SAT Mathematics
.49
SAT Critical Reading
.50
SAT Writing
.53
Combined SAT (CR + M + W)
.56
High School GPA
SAT Total + High School GPA
.64
Most students benefit from taking the SAT twice: once in the spring of their junior year, and again in the fall of senior year.
Source: SAT validity data for the Fall 2007 cohort: 160,000 student in the study; 110 colleges and universities participated.
* Correlations corrected for restriction of range

26. Correlation with Freshman GPA
Correlation* with Freshman GPA for 150,000 students at 110 colleges & universities
SAT Math
.47
SAT Critical Reading
.48
SAT Writing
.51
SAT Total
.56
High School GPA
.54
SAT+HSGPA
.62
College Success: Persistence, graduation, (RETENTION), GPA, Ability to balance academics/college life
Predicts what will occur based on what we know about performance in high school, achievement on assessments.
Correlation value of .4 or better has higher confidence level.
*Correlations corrected for restriction of range
CONFIDENTIAL - INTERNAL USE ONLY

27. What does a correlation of 0.56 mean?
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What does a correlation of 0.56 mean?
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The SAT® provides a meaningful prediction of how students will perform in their first year of college.
% Earning B or higher
SAT Scores: Mathematics + Critical Reading + Writing

28. Yield
The SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ are often used by colleges and universities as criteria to segment and target their admitted student population. Through scholarship awards, students receive monetary support for their education.
Colleges and universities can:
Identify students for specialized recruitment efforts
Identify students for merit aid awards
Students may also be eligible for external scholarships
State scholarship programs
Private scholarship programs

29. Enroll
The SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ are often used as tools to support colleges and universities to place students in their first-year classes.
With the SAT, colleges and universities can:
Identify students who are academically prepared to enroll in entry-level English, writing and mathematics courses
Identify students who may be in need of remedial course work
Schools may recommend students to participate in bridge programs or enroll in remedial courses over the summer prior to enrollment

30. Retain
The results from numerous research studies examining the relationship between SAT® scores and college retention consistently reveal a positive relationship.
As SAT scores increase, so does the likelihood of a student returning for the second and third year of college.

31. 10b_1585_SATforRAS
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Retain
The SAT also predicts students’ likeliness to return their sophomore year.
For more SAT data and research, please visit
N=105
N=3,172
N=32,393
N=63,319
N=40,276
N=8,734
Source: Is Performance on the SAT Related to College Retention? 2009

32. The SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ are useful throughout the enrollment process
Inspire
Search
Recruit
Admit
Yield
Enroll
Retain
Graduate
The SAT continues to be important tools in admitting students to colleges or universities.
They are also important tools for helping colleges and universities attract and recruit students to their institutions.
Students who send their scores early to colleges and universities demonstrate a strong interest in those institutions and may be identified for special recruitment opportunities.
Even after admission, the SAT provides powerful information to aid in enrolling, placing and retaining students.

34. What are SAT Subject Tests?

35. What is assessed on SAT Subject Tests?

36. The only national standardized college entrance exam of high school level content knowledge

37. Students taking SAT Subject Tests are diverse

38. Students taking SAT Subject Tests are high achieving and focused

39. Thank you! Paul Schroeder Scott Smith Rachelle Hernandez
Senior Educational Manager
The College Board
Scott Smith
Educational Manager
Rachelle Hernandez
Interim Director of Admissions
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

40. Optional Slides

41. New Resources for Students:
Test preparation SAT Skills Insight MY SAT Online Score Report

42. SAT Practice Tools At a Glance for Students
Most SAT Practice Tools are FREE!
Practicing for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests
Planning for Test Day
SAT Question of the Day – FREE
SAT Question of the Day Mobile App – FREE
SAT Practice Questions – FREE
SAT Subject Test Practice Questions – FREE
SAT Practice Test – FREE
Mathematics Review – FREE
Effective Writing Review – FREE
SAT® Skills Insight™ – FREE
The SAT® Practice Booklet – FREE
Official SAT Study Guide™: 2nd Ed.
Official SAT Subject Test Study Guide™: 2nd Ed.
The Official SAT Online Course™
My SAT Study Plan™ – FREE
Answers Imagined – FREE
SAT Test Taking Approaches – FREE
SAT Essay Strategies – FREE
SAT Subject Test Taking Approaches – FREE
SAT Subject Test Recommended Skills and Prerequisites – FREE
SAT Subject Test Web Resources – FREE
Expanded Practice Questions
Answer Explanations
Recommended Preparation
Important Test Day information on:
How to Do Your Best
What to Bring
Standby Testing
If You’re Absent
SAT Test Center Closing
Make-up Testing
Test Security and Fairness
Talking Points:
The College Board also offers a number of practice tools for students.
Most of them are free and easily accessible on our website.
They are effective
These are the only official practice tools available from the test maker
Demo:
- Show the SAT practice site homepage
Walk through features on the home page
Show how students can access the practice page from the SAT homepage
Helping Students Get Ready
Models, Lesson Plans, and Strategies for:
Argumentative writing skills
School-based SAT Practice
The Official SAT Teacher’s Guide™
ESL/ELL students
Professional Development Workshops:
SAT Skills Insight
Animating Student Writing
Holistic Scoring Workshop
School-Based SAT Practice
Writing Preparation for Educators of ESL/ELL Students 5

43. “score bands” between 200 and 800.
SAT scores
are grouped into six
“score bands” between 200 and 800.
For each score band, academic skills are categorized by skill group.
“Academic Skills” are
skills typical
of students who score within the selected score band.
“Suggestions for Improvement” help students advance to a higher score band.
“Skill Examples” are
actual SAT questions that illustrate the meaning of
the skills.
Free, online resource, paired with My SAT Online Score Report to make SAT In Focus
Shows students and educators the skills that are tested on the SAT.
Simple to use, it shows the level of academic skills associated with scores in 100-point intervals
Sample SAT questions and answers help students better understand the skill descriptions given.
SAT Skills Insight identifies the academic skills that typical students should focus on to improve their scores, depending on their target score range.
CONFIDENTIAL - INTERNAL USE ONLY

44. My SAT Online Score Report: Overview
My SAT Online Score Report is a free tool available to all students who take the SAT
It helps students see the detail behind their individual score, get insight into college and career choices, and focus their preparation efforts for retesting
The custom reports are posted on collegeboard.com about three weeks after each test date
My SAT Online Score Report is a free tool that gives students the meaning behind the numbers…the more knowledge students have about themselves, their strengths and weaknesses, the more they’ll understand what it will take to reach their goals…
Mention that they can go online for demo

45. Score Choice
Score Choice is an update to the SAT score reporting policy which is designed to reduce stress students experience on test day
Students will have the option to choose the scores (by test date) that they send to colleges, universities and scholarship programs.
Score Choice will be available to all students at no additional charge via the College Board website as well as Customer Service toll-free number.