The US Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) exam could be dropped as an entry criterion by some of the biggest colleges in the country. The SAT has been used for generations to gauge the third-level capabilities of high school students, but recent criticism has re-ignited the debate about whether it is a fair appraisal of a student's capabilities. Dr Richard Atkinson, president of the University of California (UC), said recently that he wishes to drop the SAT as an entry requirement for applicants to the nine UC campuses. Speaking at a national meeting of college presidents, he said the SAT system encouraged pupils merely to concentrate on test-taking skills rather than broadening their range of knowledge. He also pointed to evidence that the exam appears to put black and latino students at a disadvantage when it comes to gaining a college place.