ABSTRACT
College admissions tests were initially developed as a mechanism to standardize the college admissions process and provide students greater access to highly selective institutions. Over time and in response to societal changes, the testing programs have shifted to accommodate a broader range of college applicants as well as a broader range of uses of the test scores. The production of the exams was somewhat secondary to the overarching goal of providing a means of communication between schools and colleges moving toward a more uniform secondary school curriculum. The tests were of varied quality and made it difficult for out-of-state students interested in attending other states’ colleges to participate. In addition to assisting with admissions decisions, universities needed assistance with placement decisions once the student enrolled. Information about scoring procedures and validity studies was not generally released. The lack of transparency around what was tested may have also led to perceptions that the tests were culturally biased.
