New research finds SAT is equally predictive for those with high and low socioeconomic status

Students from wealthier families, on average, perform better on the SAT than those from low-income families. And that reality has led some colleges to question the fairness of relying on the test in admissions decisions.

A new study in the journal Psychological Science, however, says that the predictive value of the SAT is strong, especially when used in conjunction with high school grades, and that the use of the SAT has equal predictive accuracy for students from across a range of socioeconomic groups. Such a finding — based, as the research is, on multiple, large datasets — could be a strong counter to those who argue for making the SAT optional.

But skeptics of the SAT are questioning the study because of the source of its funding (the College Board) and for leaving out what they consider key factors that may explain its findings in ways that don’t remove the concerns about fairness.