By Noah Knopf. Harvard Political Review
The two major college entrance exams in the United States are going digital. Since 2015, ACT Inc. has been offering a digital version of its exam that is now being taken by 8 percent of ACT test takers. The College Board, makers of the rival SAT exam, now alsooffers a computer option.
But the move towards digital college entrance exams is not without its pitfalls. In addition to recent logistical problems, the SAT and ACT’s shift to computer testing sparks important concerns involving digital reading comprehension and inequality in computer access. Despite these drawbacks, digital testing does make sense in the modern world where computer literacy has quickly become an essential skill. Instead of rejecting the new tests, which would only postpone the challenges tech-deprived students will struggle with later in life, the United States should focus on fighting the digital inequality that disadvantages students without regular access to a computer. In a world where educators are often evaluated based on their students’ test scores, the introduction of digital standardized tests may even force schools with tech-deprived students to focus more urgently on teaching computer skills. Read the Full Article
