SAT Question Raises Furor

Published on Friday, March 25th, 2011 by Ryan Collins Category: College News College Tips

SAT Questions San Francisco, CA. (CollegetoCareers.com) - The SAT – a slightly terrifying word to any student who knows the word.

Speak to any student familiar with the college application process, and you’ll know that it is still viewed as a formidable test that stands between many and their dream schools of choice. Hours of study in courses, prep classes, tutoring and the money spent on test preparations have all helped make – and break – students when it comes to their postsecondary education.

The essay question, a recent addition to the test, continues to fall under criticism from students and opponents alike. For example, a more recent test question that concerned reality television prompted educators and students around the country to question the validity of the essay as well as whether such a trivial question is fit for the SAT.

Administered last Saturday, the essay prompt asked students, “How authentic can [reality] shows be when producers design challenges for the participants and then editors alter filmed scenes?”

The New York Times reported that students took to websites such as College Confidential to express their disappointment with the test, saying that they felt their hard work and preparation had been in vain.

The New York Times reported that, by Wednesday, responses on the website had expanded the initial conversation to 40 pages.

One commenter on College Confidential said that he had wished he had watched TV, rather than spend time on literature reviews for his English classes.

Other students defended the prompt and said that it was not difficult to answer.

Angela Garcia, executive director for the SAT program, said that the question was not meant to fool students who failed to watch reality television shows, but attempted to engage students.

“The primary goal of the essay prompt is to give students an opportunity to demonstrate their writing skills,” she said, according to The New York Times. “It’s really about pop culture as a reference point that they would certainly have an opinion on.”

What do you think? Should one of the most important tests in the country include a non-traditional question about reality television?

Feel free to leave your comments below.

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