College Entrance Test Fails to Measure Up

Re “SAT’s Big Multiple Choice,” July 25: The idea that a thoughtful, well-organized essay can be written in 25 minutes is ridiculous. Our fast-food, fast lifestyle is now completely out of control.

I’m in favor of the several colleges across the country that have dropped the SAT altogether in favor of a more comprehensive application packet.

High school grades earned over four years, essays written and revised over some time and teacher recommendations give a far better picture of the applicant and his or her likelihood of future academic success than a quickie test that can be graded by computer.

Carol May

Los Angeles

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I cannot help but wonder if, as a result of the confusion arising from choosing between the old and new versions of the SAT, the advantage to wealthier students will grow even more. Not every family can afford to blithely write a check for $1,000 to pay for a preparation course, or even to pay to take both versions of the exam and pick and choose the better score.

Worse, allowing both versions of the SAT to be used defies the purpose of having a common yardstick to evaluate all applicants.

I can only hope that the new exam does a better job of testing students on what they are actually learning in college prep courses. Absent that, the situation continues that having better choices in the college admissions process to pick from will be available only to those who can afford them.

Shine Ling

Goleta