Why Do Tests Matter?

Why do colleges put so much stock in the results of one-time tests like the SAT? According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, it’s because “policy makers and educators have effectively eliminated all the other ways of quantifying student performance.” As part of the story, “Here’s Why Tests Matter,” the reporter cited a new report on grade inflation that was just released by former Duke University professor Stuart Rojstaczer and current Furman computer science professor Chris Healy.