The Martin Center president, Jenna Robinson wrote an opinion for The Hill, titled Standardized testing is still the great equalizer. In it, she argues that while President Trump’s recent executive order on transparency in admissions is a step toward fairness, equal opportunity cannot be achieved without reinstating standardized tests. Nearly 90 percent of selective colleges abandoned them during the pandemic; yet, research shows that test-optional policies often reduce socioeconomic diversity and disadvantage low-income students.
Robinson stresses that unlike inflated GPAs, polished essays, or curated extracurriculars, standardized tests provide a fair and objective measure of academic preparedness across backgrounds. She acknowledges the tests are imperfect but insists they remain the most reliable safeguard of meritocracy in higher education. If you would like to learn more about her perspective, click HERE.