Acing the test: Educational effects of the SaberEs test preparation program in Colombia

Christian Posso Suarez (), Estefanía Saravia and Pablo Uribe

Economics of Education Review, 2023, vol. 97, issue C

Abstract: Education in Colombia and Latin America is characterized by significant gaps in the quality of education as measured by standardized test scores. This paper assesses the impact of a Colombian program called SaberEs, which strengthens preparation for standardized cognitive tests such as the high school exit exam in Colombia (Saber 11) for low socioeconomic status students. The program provides competency-based training sessions to develop skills for analyzing and solving specific types of questions within school hours. Our difference-in-differences estimates show that SaberEs increased Saber 11 scores by 2.22 ranks (or 0.074 standard deviations), which implies that the socioeconomic achievement gap was reduced by 23% regarding the control schools. Also, students affected by the program experienced a significant increase in access to tertiary education and merit-based scholarships in Colombia.

Keywords: Test preparation programs; Standardized tests; Higher education; Financial aid and scholarships; Education in Latin America (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A21 D04 I21 I24 I28 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecoedu:v:97:y:2023:i:c:s0272775723001061

DOI: 10.1016/j.econedurev.2023.102459

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