Here is another article that provides more data from the book:

www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/09/09/finish

This article lists a few of the schools in the study:

chronicle.com/article/For-Some-Students-an/48331/

tropicgal, I agree that grade inflation/manipulation could become a greater problem. I also question whether there could be more stress and anxiety and even depression when a student who gets a "B" in high school feels their opportunity to attend a top college has been crushed without "straight A's."

I haven't read the book, but I'd like to know which 21 prestigious universities in this study were. I find it difficult to believe that the students accepted to those colleges (unless they're athletes) had great SAT scores with mediocre GPA's, OR that they had good grades with poor SAT's. Kids who got in those schools likely had both, yet those universities aren't graduating 100% of their students, either. Clearly, there are other factors involved besides just grades or SAT/ACT scores.

Very interesting. I think those tests are an easy way for large colleges that receive tons of applications, to automatically weed applicants out of the selection process--just let the computer do it, no personal review necessary.

If these tests are done away with, I see high schools possibly start inflating grades to improve seniors' chances of admissions, but this could do a big disservice to them once they got into college and have inflated ideas of their actual ability to do college level work.

Now if we could just get rid of the 10th grade F(lorida)CAT...

Very interesting. Thanks for posting this article.

Sure, here it is. From the Quick and the Ed website: www.quickanded.com/2009/11/crossing-the-finish-line-the-sat-and-act.html

Magnetmom, any chance you can list the web address and not just an imbedded link? I can't seem to open it, but would like to read the article....Thanks!