The watchdog appears to question whether it is possible to have an exam which can provide reliable data for league tables and which at the same time is capable of being taken and passed by teenagers of all abilities.
Since no standard method to calculate a graduation rate is enforced nationally, and the college entrance exam boards will only release data below a state level directly to the schools, not the public, we were left to trust county, district and school officials to honestly and accurately report their results.
Some of the teachers boycotting the test there say they aren't opposed to using student-achievement data in evaluations but are unhappy with the current exam.
Only 43% of the 1.66 million private- and public-school students who took the college-entrance exam posted scores showing they are prepared to do well in college, according to data released by the College Board, the nonprofit group that administers the SAT.
With today's sensitivities about data protection, it is hard for ministers to drop a line directly to Joe or Gemma congratulating them on their exam results and urging them to think about going to university.