This orientation film “Let’s Talk About the SAT” was created in the late 1970s in an effort to better prepare students about the Scholastic Aptitude Tests or SATs; what they are and what students should expect. The SAT has been around since 1926 and is a standardized test used for college admissions in the U.S., and is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors. For much of its history, it had two components, Verbal and Mathematical, each of which was scored on a range from 200 to 800. Later it was called the Scholastic Assessment Test, then the SAT I: Reasoning Test, then the SAT Reasoning Test, then simply the SAT. The SAT is wholly owned, developed, and published by the College Board, a private, not-for-profit organization, and is administered by the Educational Testing Service,

The film opens with various shots of students discussing the SAT (:24). A teacher enters her empty classroom setting a stack of copies of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (:42). Norma Lowder (1:05) explains the test is a way to test your aptitude prior to getting into college (1:12). She further explains they exist as a common denominator across the country (1:29). Students interject their concerns and opinions as the film flicks between them and Norma (2:01). A Volvo of the 140 Series rolls past the camera (2:21). A teacher sets tests onto each desk (2:25) in an empty classroom. Eloise Lee of Colorado explains the difference between an aptitude test versus an achievement test (2:33). Vernese B. O’Neal of Dillard University in New Orleans, Louisiana (2:50) explains the SAT tests one’s ability to grasp certain ideas. Eloise explains the difficulty in studying for the SAT (3:08). Douglas Carpenter of Montclair High School in New Jersey (3:13) states the best preparation was the information you retain in the last eleven years (3:16). Students respond to whether or not they consider the SAT to be a difficult test (3:59). Norma explains how the test is graded (4:44) as well as what a passing mark might be (4:54). A teacher scrawls the starting time for the daunting standardized test (5:18). Fred A. Hargadon Dean of Admissions of Stanford University in California (5:23) explains the necessity of the SAT. The test is to answer whether or not the student might be able to succeed at their chosen college (6:21). Clifford F Sjogren of University of Michigan (6:36) explains most institutions will base their decisions on the number of applicants competing for the position (6:48). Cecile A. Christensen (7:08) of Massachusetts State College System explains how the various programs look at SAT scores (7:18). Clifford informs viewers how the SAT’s help college students (7:43). A college student discusses how the SAT’s helped him get into college (8:58). Students with lower GPA’s and high SAT scores find themselves still able to get accepted into desirable colleges (9:13). Students discuss the pressure of feeling as though they must do well on the test (10:41). Cecile explains the SAT is considered to be less important than how well a student does in high school (11:22). Extra-curricular activities are also considered in the application process (11:52). Students enter a classroom to take the SAT (12:31) as the overseer begins instructing. Teachers and professors explain the SAT is a part of a whole of variables used to judge whether or not a student is the right fit for a particular school (13:16). The test begins for the students (13:34). Suggested reading material for students preparing for the SAT’s follows (13:52). The credit screen wraps up the film as students discuss their feelings on how they did on the exam (14:06). This film was presented as a Public Service by the College Entrance Examination Board of New York, New York (14:17). The College Board is an American not for profit organization formed in 1899.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com