Dive Brief:
- Khan Academy and the College Board, the company behind the SAT, have teamed up on a variety of free study tools for the exam, including four full-length practice tests, thousands of practice questions, interactive video lessons, and study tips.
- The aim of the tools is to level the playing field and make it easier for students without the advantage of private SAT tutors and other supports to study and feel comfortable with the exam.
- The plan to make test prep resources free was revealed in March 2014 when Khan Academy and College Board formally announced their partnership.
Dive Insight:
Last fall, the College Board released findings that only 43% of students taking the SAT in 2014 were ready for college. While that can be seen as an indictment of the school systems (and bigger societal issues like poverty) where those students were enrolled, it also largely indicated a lack of test prep. Were these students really not ready for college, or were they just unable to master the questions the SAT uses to measure college readiness?
The same report from the College Board found that only 16% of black and 23% of Latino students were college-ready based on the 2014 SAT. Low-income and minority students are typically at a disadvantage for college access, so tools like these free study kits will definitely help bring some equity to the system.
According to the Huffington Post, even test prep companies like Kaplan are celebrating the news despite the increased competition, since it means these services are being acknowledged as a necessary factor for success.
