The Psychometric Foundation of the SAT: Reliability, Validity, and Fairness

1) Reliability of the SAT: Consistency in Scoring

Reliability in psychometrics gauges a test’s consistency in producing stable scores over time. The SAT’s reliability is measured through internal consistency and test-retest reliability.

Internal Consistency ensures that items within the test uniformly measure related skills. The SAT’s consistency scores often reach between 0.90 and 0.95, a high benchmark indicating that questions across sections contribute cohesively to each subject score.

Test-Retest Reliability measures score stability over repeated administrations. Research shows that students taking the SAT more than once often achieve similar scores, though factors like preparation and familiarity can influence results. Overall, the SAT’s stability across sittings is well-supported, contributing to its reliability as a measure.

2) Validity of the SAT: Assessing Predictive Accuracy

Validity examines how effectively a test measures its intended skills. For the SAT, predictive, construct, and content validity are central aspects in evaluating this metric.

Predictive Validity examines how well SAT scores forecast college performance. Studies indicate a strong correlation between SAT scores and first-year college GPAs, although combining scores with high school GPA generally enhances predictive accuracy.

Construct Validity checks if the SAT accurately measures abstract concepts such as verbal comprehension and mathematical reasoning. The SAT’s reading and math sections are well-aligned with the skills necessary for college work, including critical analysis and quantitative problem-solving.

Content Validity ensures the test reflects relevant high school curricula. Regular content reviews help maintain the SAT’s alignment with educational standards, offering balanced coverage of math, reading, and writing fundamentals critical to college preparedness.

3) Fairness in SAT Scoring: The Role of Item Response Theory (IRT)

Item Response Theory (IRT) is used to enhance the fairness and consistency of the SAT. This statistical approach evaluates individual test items to ensure they perform well across diverse groups and represent intended skill levels accurately.

IRT also identifies differential item functioning (DIF), which can reveal questions that may inadvertently favor certain groups. The College Board reviews and adjusts such items to minimize biases, reinforcing fairness.

IRT further contributes to the SAT’s stability by calibrating difficulty across test versions. This allows scoring to remain consistent regardless of when the test is taken, creating a fair assessment environment for all students.

4) Standardization and Scaling for Integrity

Standardization ensures uniform test administration, while score scaling enables comparability between different SAT versions, contributing to fairness and statistical integrity.

Uniform Administration minimizes external variables by enforcing consistent conditions, including time limits and materials, which are critical for equitable testing.

Score Scaling adjusts for slight difficulty variations across test versions. By scaling scores, the SAT allows colleges to fairly assess applicants based on a consistent metric. Additionally, the SAT uses an equating process to further refine scores, ensuring uniformity across different test dates.