The reason behind its introduction was to standardize college admissions. Prior to the SAT, colleges relied heavily on subjective measures like high school grades and recommendations, which varied widely in quality and rigor across different schools. The College Board, aiming for a more equitable and objective system, developed the test as a tool to help colleges compare applicants from diverse backgrounds and high schools. The idea was to provide a common yardstick for assessing students' aptitude for college-level work.