Zohran Mamdani's SAT score sparks controversy — but what exactly is the SAT and why does it matter?

Time of India

9 hours ago

Source: X/ Zohran Mamdani
Zohran Mamdani's campaign was everywhere—and now, so is he. After clinching the Democratic nomination in the race for New York City Mayor, Mamdani has become a name impossible to ignore.
But with fame comes scrutiny, and in Mamdani's case, that spotlight has now shifted to his academic past.
The controversy began when The New York Times revealed that Mamdani had selected both 'Asian' and 'Black' on his Columbia University application. Soon after, conservative commentator Christopher Rufo unearthed his full admissions file.
The headline detail?
Mamdani scored 2140 out of 2400 on his SAT—a solid score for most, but reportedly below Columbia's median of 2250–2300 at the time(The highest score on the current SAT is 1600.
The SAT used to be scored out of 2400, but that was before March 2016 when the test format was changed). It wasn't his first attempt either; his initial SAT score was 1650, a number unlikely to turn heads in Ivy League admissions.
This revelation has led to a lot of speculations and some uncomfortable allegations, with critics asking if Mamdani used his dual racial identity in any way during his academic journey. On social media too, people are reacting aggressively.
One user wrote, "Zohran's SAT scores were good enough to get a lot of kids into Columbia that year, and allegedly "likely above the median score for black students"--and he didn't get in, which shows he didn't get any special treatment for checking the African American (Ugandan) box.
"
Another commented, "Is the next "bombshell" going to be that he answered a question without raising his hand in 3rd grade?"
However, this moment also has many questioning the importance of SATs and why they carry so much weight in American education.
What is the SAT
, and why is it important?
The SAT, short for Scholastic Assessment Test, is a standardized entrance exam used by many colleges and universities across the U.S. to help make admissions decisions. Administered by the College Board, it is a multiple-choice, computer-based test designed to measure a high school student's readiness for college-level work.
In an admissions process filled with essays, extracurriculars, recommendation letters, and interviews, the SAT stands out for one key reason: it gives colleges a common data point to compare all applicants, regardless of what school they attended or how their GPA was calculated.
A high SAT score can:
Increase your chances of being accepted into competitive colleges
Help qualify you for academic scholarships
Open doors to honors programs and funding opportunities
Offset a weaker GPA in some cases
That said, different schools give different values to the scores, some institutions are going test-optional or test-blind.
What's on the SAT?
The current version of the SAT has two main sections, each divided into two adaptive modules: evidence-based reading and writing and math. Each section has two modules
Because it's an adaptive test, your performance in the first module influences the difficulty of the second. While you can move back and forth within a module, you can't revisit previous ones.
How long are SAT scores valid?
Technically, SAT scores don't expire, but most colleges consider them reliable for up to five years. After that, the College Board attaches a note indicating they may no longer accurately reflect your academic ability.