The problem with America’s college entrance exam
In the U.S., your SAT score is hugely important. But what does it *really* measure?
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The SAT college extrance exam is a gatekeeper of opportunity. But this wasn’t always the case.
Here are some sources I found useful when reporting out this piece:
* The Big Test is a well known book written by Nicholas Lemann, but a few years before he published this in 1999, he wrote this piece for The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1995/09/the-great-sorting/376451/
* Here’s the story behind the SAT overhaul: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/magazine/the-story-behind-the-sat-overhaul.html?_r=0
* This research paper, from Raj Chetty and colleagues, looks at the role of colleges in intergenerational mobility: https://www.nber.org/papers/w23618
* The SAT helps predict first-year GPA to an extent — but not for all students. We didn’t include this in our video, but this piece covers the research that shows the SAT isn’t predictive for a huge portion of students: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/01/26/new-research-suggests-sat-under-or-overpredicts-first-year-grades-hundreds-thousands
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@tylerove2495
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
2:35 chops, fore-quarter, rump. Off the dome
@scottgalster4051
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
I took and passed the college entrance exam in high school.
@pichousakirito168
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
I love how the video just turned into “wealth inequality” problem. How are rich people the problem in the system where it’s up to the education department?
@MirzohidPolvonkulov
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
It is not even an intelligent Assessment Test
@94-97
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
That is why it is no longer available! 0:52
@Jellyboisigma
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
US mfs after feeling 1% of the pain of the average Chinese student taking the Gaokao:
@Jacksonuz9
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
that is actually so good
@no1milkyrayfan
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
67
@epsilon_el_naught
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
Does anyone know the name of the soundtrack playing at 02:52 ???
edit: mooncats by tom hillock
@tejasmehandiratta8110
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
I don't understand the problem with this country calling itself a superpower.
They have one of the easiest and most cake-walked entrance engineering exam ever. And even in that they have problem that why we have these competitive exams.
In US, people don't even care about SAT. Unlike India, they don't study for 2-4 years for their higher studies. One day I came across the hardest SAT Math Question ever, as 16 y/o, it took me less than 10 second to solve it. And still they have problem with this kind of test.
In India, people without much wealth, go into affordable coaching (let me tell everyone, competitive coaching in India for JEE/NEET is really affordable, but people don't believe it, and in my coaching, almost everyone has got scholarship from the govt. of India for their coaching fees except for few students from Private schools), study so hard for just one exam, and then go into great colleges on their own hardwork, colleges which are even govt. funded, not like Harvard or MIT where money talks more than scores.
USA has one of the worst high school education system, a system that is incapable of creating even 0.01% of scientific development.
I don't understand how a country just on the basis of exploited money, exploited power and their brain drain so called American dream system, can have one of the highest scientific development, even after having a school system with no capabilities, a development based on just H1B Visa and Green Card and all other stuff.
Even in this kind of a system they have such problems.
@BaconMaster-y7i
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
6:46 six seven?????
@eatylswv6778
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
💔💔 Now the grade inflation made this video feel a Bit off because 1480 is Not even an average ivy league score nowdays
@Usuario-gv3sz
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
John 3:16
Peace and love brothers, Jesus is King:)
@tetarobotica
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
yunanlara koymuşuz
@toxicenddragon
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
R. Chetty's article I actually studied, and it has also a lot of good points about upward mobility. I would say read it for yourself, and draw good conclusions.
@shawn-r1t
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
To be fair the data would also show that people of lower income are less prepared for college. The Sat does its job it just highlights the inequality of u.s education.
@snofy
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
i got 1550 doing only free college board practice tests.. it's not about income.
@nguyenlamanh2919
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
SAT score is the sole reason I got into college, no extracurricular activities whatever
@manerkraner
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
The three words were chops, liver, and sirloin
@PJLuty
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
7:46 My problem with this question is that you cannot say 'an concentrated'
@Koolteenn
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
Great video
@rinni100
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
Currently an undergraduate student on my second semester in college and I am very impressed how 5:50 is very accurate. I took the SAT and the highest I ever got was a 950 and my family's income is between $25,000-$40,000 a year I would say. Thankfully I was able to be admitted without SAT scores and only with my High school class ranking which I was ranked 14 out of 350 classmates. College took me by surprised as I had no guidance but I quickly adapted and got A's my first semester and this semester I am aiming to get all A's again.
@Conk-bepis
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
Well, what else will colleges judge you on ? Your knowledge on the latest Netflix show ?
@verybritishstudios8261
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
This why I’m glad for the UCAS system in the UK. It’s not perfect, but it seems perfect compared to this.
@debatingupdating
March 16, 2026 at 6:31 am
SAT seems/is incredibly easily in a wide amount of international curriculums. Many 14/15y/os have achieved 1500+ already, did this at 13 with a 1540 (mock).
Comments are closed.