US: Dramatic challenge to SAT and ACT

Calling on colleges to "take back the conversation", a special panel convened by the National Association for College Admission Counseling last week encouraged colleges to consider dropping the SAT or ACT as admissions requirements, reports Scott Jaschik in Inside Higher Ed. A panel report called on all colleges to consider more systematically whether they really need testing to admit their students. If there is not clear evidence of the need for testing, the commission urged colleges to drop the requirement.

While stressing that there is not a "one-size-fits-all" approach to admissions and testing, and not ruling out that testing may be needed at some institutions, the commission generally takes a very critical look at testing - in a significant shift from past NACAC statements.

It talks about how the discussion of standardised testing has come to be "dominated by the media, commercial interests, and organisations outside of the college admission office". In addition, the panel cites research suggesting that colleges have been placing more emphasis on testing despite evidence that they should be moving in the opposite direction.
Full report on the Inside Higher Ed site