美国大学“可免试入学”改革及启示

Test-optional Reform in American Universities' Admission and Its Inspirations

美国大学采行的招生办法是典型的"多样化招生",其大学招生制度具有"标准多元、综合评价、自主招生"等特征。其中,标准化考试分数是美国大学近百年录取新生深为倚重的"黄金罗盘",并且一直是颇有影响的"美国新闻与世界报道"大学排行指标体系的"座上客"。但标准化考试在美国也是一个备受争议的话题。近二十年来,美国越来越多的大学进行了"可免试入学"改革尝试,标准化考试成绩不再是必须提交的申请材料。实行这一改革主要基于两点理由:标准化考试成绩对预测大学学业成绩效果甚微;标准化考试强化了社会不平等。改革实践表明,"可免试入学"有助于大学招录对象构成成分的多样、学术能力更强的学生。美国关于大规模标准化统一考试的反省与破除统考迷信的改革尝试,给我们提供了可贵的启示。我国高考制度要发挥良性的教育与社会功能,必须打破"以分数论英雄"的观念桎梏,推动人才评价多元化与招生录取多样化改革。

Standardized testing score is a golden compass for college admissions in the recent century,and a very important criterion for the universities ranking in the US News World Report as well,but standardized testing is also a very controversial topic in the United States.More and more universities have gone test-optional in recent 20 years,no longer requiring any test scores from its undergraduate applicants.The reason for going test-optional is that,the standardized testing is predicatively redundant for the academic performance in colleges,and promotes social disparities at the same time.The evidences have shown that the universities got academically stronger students and more social diversities when they admit without any reference to test scores.We need to learn from the United States on this point when we conduct the College Entrance Examination reform,to recruit freshmen not only by their test scores but also by other criteria,promoting the diversification and comprehensiveness of college admissions in China.