Minister of Education Mohamed Abdel-Latif is considering the reintroduction of SAT, formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test, almost four years after it was suspended in Egypt.

Following a recent virtual videoconference meeting with the College Board, the non-profit association which administers the SAT, Abdel-Latif discussed the possible means and methodologies according to which the SAT exams could be reintroduced for students of the American diploma in Egypt.

Spokesman of the Ministry of Education Shadi Zalata said Abdel-Latif will sign a cooperation protocol with Matthew Chouvanc, director of the College Board’s international team for Southwest Asia and North Africa, to facilitate the return of SAT exams for American diploma students in Egypt and to establish the mechanisms for conducting the exams. During the meeting, according to Zalata, Abdel-Latif and Chouvanc agreed on the importance of collaboration between the ministry and the College Board to conduct accurate digital international exams for American diploma students.

In 2021 the then minister of education Tarek Shawki announced that the College Board had decided to end its operations in Egypt in September 2020. The decision came after the discovery of massive cheating in Egypt.

“The exam model in Egypt was the same as that in China. Due to the time difference between Egypt and China, some exploited this by bringing copies of the exam from China for financial gains,” Zalata said.

Since then, the Egyptian Secondary Education Test (EST), an alternative assessment method, was implemented and served as a replacement for the SAT and used by students for university admission. The EST aimed at providing universities with a clearer measure of students’ academic standard based on the skills and knowledge they developed through the national education system. Additionally, the EST allowed for greater focus on locally relevant subjects.

Recently, there have been calls from parents, along with educational institutes, for the reinstatement of SAT exams, stressing the need for international recognition. Students intending to continue their university education in countries that rely heavily on SAT scores for university entry, such as the US, were at a disadvantage without access to the test.

Additionally, with Egypt seeking to modernise its education system as part of the Egypt Vision 2030 plan, “the return of the SAT coincides with the broader goal of improving the quality and global competitiveness of Egypt’s universities,” said Zalata, quoting minister Abdel-Latif.

According to Zalata, the reintroduction of the SAT to schools is expected to be gradual, starting with a pilot programme in select schools and universities to assess the effectiveness of the exam in the current educational context. This will allow for adjustments to be made based on feedback from students and educational institutions. The ministry also intends to provide preparatory resources, including workshops and practice tests, to familiarise students with the format and content of the SAT after years of suspension, he said. This approach ensures that students will be fully prepared for the exam when it becomes available, while also allowing the ministry to monitor the impact of the SAT on the broader educational system, Zalata said.

Currently, the ministry, according to Zalata, is working with educational stakeholders to finalise the details of SAT’s return. “The next few months will likely bring further updates on how the test will be integrated into the university admission process, as well as the specific logistical and academic changes needed to make the transition successful,” he added.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 12 December, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly