Article: SAT 2005 quandary: natural smart vs classroom learning.(Education)(standardized educational testing)

THIS MONTH MARKS a pivotal divide in the SAT, arguably the most influential test for the nation's college-bound students, and also one of the most controversial. The elusive and once glittering perfect 1,600 score, comprised of 800 verbal and 800 mathematics points, has morphed into a 2,400-point "mother of all tests."

Proponents of the revised SAT format praise its grammar and writing additions and argue that the content-driven questions will benefit attentive and conscientious students who deserve high test scores commensurate with their grade point averages. Advocates of the former SAT format believe that rote memorization has replaced thinking and logic and ...