How does EMA reduce bias and promote fairness?

EMA reduces bias through three key approaches: 1) By adhering to testing standards set by the American Psychological Association, American Education Research Association, and National Council on Measurement in Education. 2) Through strict test development practices where every aspect undergoes validity studies and fairness reviews to remove items that all students wouldn't understand. 3) Via statistical analysis where EMA routinely analyzes test scores to ensure items aren't biased toward certain groups.

Private School Admission Tests

Q: Why are admission assessments necessary?

Admission assessments provide objective insights into a student's academic readiness and character. The SSAT evaluates students' verbal, math, and reading skills, while the Character Skills Snapshot assesses non-cognitive attributes that contribute to student success.

Q: Are standardized tests biased?

The Enrollment Management Association believes standardized testing—when developed and utilized properly—is an essential and powerful tool that provides objective insights into a student's success in the first year after the assessment. The SSAT demonstrates academic success at a given point in time, reduces bias, and increases fairness by counterbalancing subjective factors such as grade point average in a student's application.

Standardized admission tests, or entrance exams, are a common step in a holistic private school application process. Our gold-standard assessments pave the way with unmatched fairness, reliability, and flexibility.

A hand drawn graphic of a plant and a cocoon.

A hand drawn plant graphic with a caterpillar.

Why are admission assessments necessary?

First, it’s important to know that standardized tests aren’t the sole criteria for admission decisions. Private schools aim to admit students poised for success in their programs, and standardized tests complement subjective evaluations such as interviews and teacher recommendations by providing objective measurements.

Think of it as a system of checks and balances to show whether all application requirements tell the same story about potential students.

North Shore Country Day School (IL)

ISEE

The Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) is our ERB-legacy admission assessment for students in grades 1–12. The ISEE evaluates students’ verbal, math, and reading skills, along with an unscored writing section. Accommodations are provided to test-takers with disabilities, and fee waivers are available to qualified students.

SSAT

The Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT) is our EMA-legacy admission assessment for students in grades 1–12. The SSAT evaluates students’ verbal, math, and reading skills, along with an unscored writing section. Accommodations are provided to test-takers with disabilities, and fee waivers are available to qualified students.

Character Skills Snapshot

The Snapshot is an innovative self-assessment in which students reflect on how they view themselves working in teams, trying new things, and other holistic skills. In the admissions process, it complements ISEE and SSAT results by helping students share they are in addition to what they know. Fee waivers for the Snapshot are available to qualified students.

Let’s Talk About Fairness in Standardized Testing

Listen to Dr. Keith Wright from the E3n discuss questions about fairness in standardized testing.

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Are standardized tests biased?

When properly developed and utilized, standardized tests are an essential and powerful tool that provides objective insights into a student’s success in the first year after the assessment. Our assessments demonstrate academic success at a given point in time, reducing bias and increasing fairness by counterbalancing subjective factors, such as grade point average, in a student’s application.

Tampa Preparatory School (FL)

How does E3ⁿ reduce bias and promote fairness?

By adhering to testing standards.

From a testing development and scoring perspective, E3n adheres to the standards from The Standards of Educational and Psychological Testing, the American Education Research Association (AERA), and the National Council on Measurement in Education (NCME).

Through strict test development practices.

Every aspect of E3n’s assessments undergoes validity studies and fairness reviews to remove items that all students wouldn’t understand—e.g., questions about a particular religion or terminology specific to certain regions. We continually re-evaluate these items.

Via statistical analysis.

E3n routinely analyzes test scores to ensure items aren’t biased toward certain groups. Schools are also encouraged to review a student’s profile holistically, and we offer the Character Skills Snapshot to provide a balanced assessment perspective.

E3n goes the extra mile for equity.

As a non-profit and the leading provider of secondary school admission assessments, all of us at E3n take our responsibility seriously to help increase access and remove barriers to private and independent schools. Our fee waivers have enabled thousands of students to take assessments, allowing them to apply and enroll in outstanding schools. Fee waivers also provide free access to online practice materials, helping students achieve their personal best.

Standardized Testing Advice Articles

Get preparation tips for standardized admission testing.

Tampa Preparatory School (FL)

Assessment Advice

The Official SSAT Practice

The path to bright SSAT results starts with studying. Only EMA's official Online Practice and Guide Books feature four full-length tests with 600 questions created by the same people who develop the SSAT. Compared to the competition, it's no competition—you get more and pay less with our official study guides!

Get started today with the free online Mini-Practice Test to identify focus areas.

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