Should standardized testing be the primary factor in college admissions?

Should standardized testing be the primary factor in college admissions?

Stance: Against (standardized tests should not be the primary factor). Jurisdiction: Mixed (US-centric examples; principles travel to UK/EU). Word budget: 750. Must-use thinkers/concepts: Rawls (fair equality of opportunity), Sen/Nussbaum (capabilities), Mill (experiments in living), Goodhart's/Campbell's Law, psychometrics (validity/reliability, range restriction, incremental validity). Red line: don't claim tests predict "nothing"; concede limited utility as one input while showing why "primary factor" is unsound.

Definitions (stance-aware)

• Standardized testing: uniform, time-limited exams (SAT/ACT/aptitude tests) designed to compare applicants across settings.
• Primary factor: the dominant determinant (decisive or near-decisive weight) in admissions decisions.
• College admissions: selection for undergraduate study where institutions pursue academic success and broader missions (diversity, civic contribution).