ACT and SAT Move to Online Format

By Rachel Max ‘24
The ACT and SAT are two standardized tests that have long been used by colleges and universities in the United States to evaluate the academic readiness of applicants. 

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The idea is that if every student takes the same test, you'd be able to get a clear picture of where a student fell to get around the possibility of grade inflation and or vastly different expectations at schools nationwide.
However, in recent years, these tests have faced increasing criticism for being outdated, biased and unfair, resulting in more and more schools adopting test-optional policies, meaning that students can choose whether or not to submit their test scores as part of their application. 
This trend was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the availability and accessibility of testing centers, making it nearly impossible for students to take the test. In response, the College Board and ACT Inc., the organizations that administer the SAT and ACT, respectively, have announced that they plan to offer online versions of their tests, with the ACT having begun its pilot earlier this year. The goal is to provide more flexibility and convenience for students who want to take the tests and to maintain relevance in a system attempting to do away with them. 
This move is not likely to save these tests as it not only does not resolve the current problem but creates new ones. An online test poses significant challenges for ensuring the security and validity of test questions and results; while in-person exams are done under the strict supervision of a proctor, an online test relies on an AI monitoring program to ensure no cheating is taking place. The only problem? Those programs aren't perfect; they can be beaten, outsmarted, and hacked and can even set off false alarms for cheating.
Also, putting aside the possibility of cheating, the ACT and SAT have a long history of placing rich, white students at an inherent advantage, a fact that multiple studies have proven to be true. Rich students have the disposable income to pay to take the test multiple times and can afford an expensive ACT/SAT prep course or tutor. By making the test digital, this disparity could be widened as not all students have technological fluency such as access to a reliable internet connection, computers or a quiet environment conducive to taking such a high-stakes test. 
“The entire standardized test process has always been unsettling for me because it is only fair for those students who can afford special tutoring and programs. There can be a really smart kid out there who deserves to get into the college they want but they are unable to take the SAT or ACT because of their financial instability. I am happy that there are new options being created to even out the playing field,” said sophomore Marley Fischer.
    Also, according to the current plans, the online tests will have a different format and structure than the in-person tests, which may affect the difficulty level, content, and scoring criteria. For example, the online ACT will have fewer questions and shorter time limits, and the online SAT will have an optional essay that will not be scored by human graders.
As a result, the online versions may not be a fair comparison to in-person tests or tests from previous years. 
“For me the [digital] test seemed easier because of the reading section. The new test had shorter passages rather than long ones, and I felt it was easier to answer the questions following the stories,” said junior Lilly Wise.
    Ultimately, only time will tell if test-optional policies are effective and if switching to online testing will be enough to keep these exams alive. However, moving away from standardized testing in general will only hasten that process. 

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