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October 25, 2016 by Mike Bergin

SAT Scores Correlate with Preference for Comedy??

For a test that so many people fear and criticize, the SAT carries a lot of cultural cachet. As a result, researchers try to connect SAT scores to all kinds of esoteric, often unrelated attributes. Which of the following do you imagine has been found to correlate with higher SAT scores?

A. Prior practice
B. Family Income
C. Family education
D. Preference for South Park over The Sopranos

Would you believe All of the Above?

Obviously, practice makes perfect when it comes to the SAT & ACT. Furthermore, numerous studies have supported strong links between test scores and both family income and parental educational level. Older versions of the SAT were even pegged to IQ scores. But can we really predict a predilection for comedy over drama from test scores?

According to research released by AT&T, higher SAT scores signal a higher likelihood of preferring comedy to drama. Researchers analyzed the show preferences of students entering popular universities across the country in 2014 and compared them with the median SAT scores for those schools. Not entirely scientific, obviously, but an interesting methodology nonetheless. Certain trends jumped out, most notably a strong appreciation for clever comedy:

showpreferencesandsatscores

Apparently, listening to John Oliver really does make you smarter! Sure, we’re talking about old format SAT scores and preferences gleaned from Facebook profiles here, but if you’re a fan of timeless comedic classics like The Simpsons and Seinfeld, you can’t help but appreciate these findings. Dig around the rest of the infographic-heavy report to see what SAT score your favorite shows are aligned with.

research SAT test scores

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Mike Bergin
Tens of thousands of students a year prep for the SAT & ACT through programs Mike Bergin created or organized. After more than 25 years of intensive experience in the education industry, he's done it all as a teacher, tutor, director, curriculum developer, blogger, podcaster, and best-selling author. Mike founded Chariot Learning in 2009 to deliver on the promise of what truly transformative individualized education can and should be.

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