Major changes are coming to the SAT. Both the SAT and the ACT are used to influence admissions and placement at colleges and universities in the US In 2016, the SAT will return to a 1600-point scale from 2400, eliminate antiquated vocabulary words and assess students’ understanding of context rather than rote memorization. The essay section will also be optional. In addition, the test will no longer penalize students for wrong answers, and the readingcomprehension section will incorporate subjects that students typically learn in high school and middle school (College Board, 2014).

Throughout the history of the SAT and ACT, Black students’ average scores have been the lowest among all racial groups. Currently, the national average for Black students on the ACT is 17 (ACT, 2012), compared with 22 for White students, and the national average for Black students on the SAT is 860 (Jaschik, 2013), compared with 1061 for White students. Black students’ scores on the SAT and ACT have been relatively flat for the last 20 years, although significant gains have been made in Black students’ graduation rates and college-degree attainment.