Intelligence is defined as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. The SAT is designed and marketed based on the idea that it is a viable measure of intelligence, but is it intelligence or memorization skills being measured? Approximately 78 percent of colleges and universities nation-wide, view an applying student’s SAT scores as a viable measure of their academic ability. The College Board claims that the SAT is a measure of a student’s “preparedness” to enroll in undergraduate programs, but does it really provide an accurate measure of this?

The national average for the math and reading sections of the SAT is approximately a 500 out of a possible 800 on each section. The types of questions on this test range from basic mathematics questions to grammar checks, but there are really no questions that have not been seen in some form on past tests, as there is a basic pool of questions the College Board selects from. With recycled questions and repeating patterns forming the blueprint for the test, it could be argued that a high score on the test could simply be the result of repetition and memorization. It is recommended on numerous SAT question and answer forums that students should sit and take at least 3-5 practice tests before taking the real thing. Hypothetically, if that was the average number of times that a student took a similar test, there is a very high probability that they have seen very similar questions to the ones they will see on the actual test. There is only a select pool of questions that can be formulated and published on these tests as shown by the fact that SAT preparedness classes focus on the same general mathematic and literary components. Those who practice the test enough are bound to do better as they have seen it before and know what approach to take.

It is not to be said that intelligent individuals don’t fall within the spectrum of above average scores, because they clearly do, but they also fall within the mid-scoring to lower scoring ranges as well.

The mindset of many students around the world has become a somber one, as now grades and test scores are believed to measure intelligence over common sense and problem solving skills. With colleges valuing SAT scores highly in their admissions process, students are focusing less on growing as individuals and more on memorization of test questions through prep classes to get as many points as they can.

Students are beginning to think that they are a lesser form of intelligent because of the scores they receive both in the classroom and on their standardized tests. Education is shifting away from educating and building up students, and more towards valuing superficial grades over actual learning.

The SAT does measure a form of intelligence by definition, but it is a popular opinion that it does not measure a viable form of intelligence that will measure performance after schooling. If a test could be produced that would measure communication, leadership skills, common sense and other problem solving skills, I believe that colleges would get a better sense of an applicant’s intellect and many students would stop having feelings of inadequacy regarding test scores.