The SAT has changed since it debuted 100 years ago – but questions remain about its relevance

Wealthier students tend to score higher on the SAT than other groups of students, raising questions about how accurate of a barometer the test actually is.

By: Beth Kania-Gosche, Missouri University of Science and Technology, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: September 22, 2026

Words: 1,255

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 5 days ago

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By Beth Kania-Gosche, Missouri University of Science and Technology

In June 1926, the SAT exam was first administered to 8,000 high school students who hoped to attend elite universities.

The SAT has undergone many changes since its original form 100 years ago, ranging from how the test is administrated to what kinds of subject matter it covers.

One particularly big shift came around 2000, when about 280 colleges and universities allowed …

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