BETA
Chapter 1
The military roots of the SAT
Chapter 2
How the test works under the hood
Chapter 3
Famous errors and cultural biases
Chapter 4
The great debate over testing's future
YOUR GOAL
Master of The history of the SAT
Ch 1 · The military roots of the SAT
dash Solve tricky historical questions to discover how the SAT tried to measure general aptitude.
dash SAT Military Roots
That college test, the SAT, Was born to sort the Army. From World War One, its roots now trace.
dash Harvard University adopted the SAT in the 1930s to find talented students outside of wealthy New England prep schools.
dash A Princeton psychologist adapted the military test to create the first Scholastic Aptitude Test in 1926.
Fun Fact
WWI lightbulb trivia: The SAT's ancestor, the Army Alpha test, included questions asking recruits to identify the brand of a popular lightbulb.
Glossary
army alpha (noun)
A group intelligence test developed during World War I to evaluate literate military recruits. In 1926, psychologist Carl Brigham adapted this exam to create the first Scholastic Aptitude Test.
A group intelligence test developed during World War I to evaluate literate military recruits. In 1926, psychologist Carl Brigham adapted this exam to create the first Scholastic Aptitude Test.
Quiz
What was the primary format of the Army Alpha test that influenced the structure of the SAT?
Quiz
What controversial early 20th-century movement did early SAT creator Carl Brigham actively participate in?
Quiz
Which university president first used the SAT in 1934 to award scholarships to public school students?