The hottest Standardized Testing Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Education Topics

2025 SAT Data Drop

Cremieux Recueil • 211 implied HN points • 11 Feb 26
🚌 Education Standardized Testing
  1. Longstanding score gaps between well‑identified demographic groups remain essentially unchanged and are at levels seen for decades.
  2. Most racial/ethnic groups show similar score variability, but Asian students have much higher variance, possibly because the category is more diverse or because high performers are more spread out.
  3. Male scores are slightly higher and more variable at the national level, but that male advantage disappears in Michigan — where all students take the SAT — highlighting that selective test participation shapes national patterns.

Childhood and Education #12: College Admissions

Don't Worry About the Vase • 1433 implied HN points • 30 Jul 25
🚌 Education Standardized Testing
  1. College admissions are often about who can play the game better, rather than just academic achievements. This makes the process feel unfair to many students who meet traditional qualifications.
  2. Writing a college application essay is very different from simply sharing your true self. Many students feel pressured to write what they think admissions officers want to hear, sometimes leading to dishonesty.
  3. The current admissions system rewards conformity and doesn't always recognize exceptional talent. Some students spend their high school years gaming the system instead of focusing on genuine achievements.

Yes, Americans Really Care About Education

Holly’s Newsletter • 1626 implied HN points • 26 Jun 23
🚌 Education Standardized Testing
  1. Americans care about education, but there are concerns about the public school system.
  2. The public school system is criticized for its failures in expectations, curriculum, and focus on political activism.
  3. The debate includes arguments about standardized testing, impact of COVID on students, and the issue of teacher pay and appreciation.

🧠 Supporting America's smartest kids: A Quick Q&A with … political scientist Charles Murray

Faster, Please! • 731 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Standardized Testing
  1. It's important for America to support and educate its academically gifted kids, especially in STEM fields. These kids can make big contributions to technology and the economy.
  2. Standardized tests are helpful for identifying talented students in mathematics and science. These tests can show who has the right abilities to succeed in tough STEM programs.
  3. Education should challenge gifted students to help them grow. They need to learn the value of hard work and humility alongside their academic strengths.
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The high school gender gap in 6 charts

Of Boys and Men • 177 implied HN points • 15 Jan 25
🚌 Education Standardized Testing
  1. Girls are performing better than boys in high school, especially when it comes to GPA. Most top students with high grades are girls.
  2. While boys do better on the math section of the SAT, they struggle with the verbal section. This shows that their strengths and weaknesses vary across different subjects.
  3. Boys are less likely to take Advanced Placement exams compared to girls. Encouraging more boys to participate in these tests could help improve their academic standing.

MIT will continue requiring the SAT

Penelope Trunk's Substack • 59 implied HN points • 06 Jan 24
🚌 Education Standardized Testing
  1. MIT continues to require the SAT for admissions, which can be a significant factor for students like the girl from foster care who surpassed expectations in the math section.
  2. The SAT is seen as an equalizer by some institutions like MIT, serving to identify potential in students who may face extreme challenges and fears, like the brilliant girl from foster care.
  3. The story highlights the importance of recognizing exceptional talents and potential in students from diverse backgrounds, even when facing adversities like lack of stability and basic needs.

Never Cancel Your Score

Metarational • 39 implied HN points • 20 Feb 23
🚌 Education Standardized Testing
  1. Consider carefully before canceling a test score; a canceled score might indicate a lower result than what you truly achieved.
  2. The reasoning behind deciding to cancel scores can become complex, especially when assumptions about the perception of reasonability are involved.
  3. The decision-making process on whether to cancel a test score can be influenced by hidden assumptions and levels of metaknowledge.