Oct 25, 2022 09:00:00

Research reveals that fairness declines when test scores are not adopted in entrance exams

Due to the diversification of education, there are more and more cases in which tests other than simple tests are used for entrance examinations. However, there is research that the lack of standardized tests for entrance examinations makes the question of 'which students to enroll' subjective and reduces fairness. The

Hechinger Report , an educational publication, explains this admissions methodology and fairness study.

PROOF POINTS: Colleges that ditched test scores for admissions find it's harder to be fair in choosing students, researcher says
https://hechingerreport.org/proof-points-colleges-that-ditched-test-scores-for-admissions-find-its-harder-to-be-fair-in-choosing-students-researcher-says/

College entrance exams in the United States use the SAT aptitude test and the ACT standardized test. However, there is a noticeable disparity that ``wealthier students can hire tutors and get higher scores in tests,'' and the SAT only predicts grades for one to two years after entering university. It seems that the movement to introduce entrance examination options other than standardized tests was accelerating. Since then, schools have been closed due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, making it difficult for students to take exams, and the majority of universities have abolished exams.

What are the problems of the academic ability judgment method of the university entrance examination and what is the newly devised ability judgment method? -GIGAZINE

By Alberto G.

According to the Hechinger Report, an admissions officer at a public university said, 'In an effort to diversify our education and our students, adding options to our tests has made student admission more subjective and time-consuming. It was explained. When accepting students without SAT or ACT scores, the opinions of those in charge with their own perspectives will be divided into 'pass' and 'fail'.

A research project by Kelly Sleigh, assistant professor at Vanderbilt University conducts in-depth interviews with admissions officers. Admissions officials said, 'The lack of clear guidance on how to select students not based on test scores makes the current process chaotic and stressful,' Srey said. that's right. Another source of confusion is the overwhelming increase in the number of college applicants due to non-test-based criteria.

A previous study found that adopting non-testing admissions options to diversify students only increased the proportion of Black, Latino, and Native American students eligible for affirmative action by only 1%. I understand. A 2011 study of college groups that adopted similar admissions options found no improvement in diversity within colleges.

Srey's study interviewed 22 admissions officers at 16 universities as of October 2022. Universities are categorized into public and private, large and small, religious and non-religious. was being implemented. Universities that introduced entrance examination options during the pandemic naturally experienced confusion in the selection of students without tests. Researchers such as Mr. Srey conclude that the method of selecting students is not detailed.

Mr. Sorey said that the confusion caused by the vagueness of the criteria for selecting students, the large increase in the number of applicants, and the shortage of personnel due to budget cuts due to the pandemic are all affecting decision-making. pointing out. In the first place, some admissions staff said, ``I felt that the method of selecting students other than the test was subjective and lacked fairness.'' It is possible that the ``implicit bias'', which is the opposite of the purpose of the entrance examination option, was amplified.

“One of the conclusions we have come to is that more choices in admissions do not lead to greater racial or socioeconomic diversity,” Srey said. If admissions officers fail to find a way to evaluate students from diverse backgrounds despite their academic ability, they may be ruled out,' Srey said. is closing.
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