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One reason I believe that SAT scores have declined has been the requirement that all seniors take the exam before they are awarded their high school diploma. I know Maine had that requirement for some years. So students who have no intention of going on to college were required to take the exam and really did not care how they did-so minimal if not zero preparation and probably just filling in the ovals for some parts of the test.

“One reason I believe that SAT scores have declined has been the requirement that all seniors take the exam before they are awarded their high school diploma.”

Correct. It’s the sample. Or rather the “population” from whence the testing group is taken.

For example, in New Mexico, the SAT is mandatory (or was, don’t know now). So the statewide results are very low.

In other states, it’s voluntary, and only those who score well on practice tests take it, as a lot of schools are “test optional”. In those states, the score is high, as the population of test takers are just people who do well on the test.

The same thing is shown at “test optional” schools. They have amazing test results — because only those students with great test scores submit scores.

The shocking news is that it has declined since the test taking requirements, and at the same time has gotten much much easier (e.g., elimination of analogy section).

Another interesting note, while the median is declining, the number of high or perfect scores is skyrocketing. In the 1980s-90s, there were < 10 perfect scores a year. Now there are ~800 perfect scores, and ~5,000 kids get perfect math scores.

The SAT, like GRE, etc.; measures general intelligence — the single most important factor affecting general life and success. E.g., if you have a high IQ you will be good at problem solving, kinda important for everything. Etc.

Activist groups opposed looking at IQ for decades since its findings are politically annoying. See “The Bell Shaped Curve”.

And, no, there are no cultural aspects to IQ.

Where and when I went to HS, SAT was optional, taken in Junior year, and only by students on a “college-prep” track, for the sole purpose of applying to colleges/universities. If politics and purposes now cause “general studies” and “vocational” students to take tests designed for college-bound students, a major drop in average SAT performance would be guaranteed.

Lots of my classmates were hyperfocused on prepping for the SAT and taking the PSAT. I never did either. I signed up for the exam. It was near Christmas. After the morning session, I went to 7-Eleven and purchased a quart of eggnog for lunch. Returned for the afternoon test session. No big deal.

My test scores arrived. I took a drive up to the UCSD registrar's office and signed up for classes starting in January 1974. I graduated in June 1976. Age 19. BA in Molecular Biology, Revelle College. UCSD. Unlike my high school classmates, I only applied to one college. It was what I could afford. Many of them applied all over the country and enjoyed reporting all the acceptance letters.

The GRE was a similar experience. It did feel more like a total brain flush. I had to take an SAT II in Biology to meet the department requirements. Started in the Microbiology department at San Diego State University in September 1976. The Fall semester went fine. Spring semester I caught flu that turned into strep throat then pneumonia. Over a week with a 103 fever. I finished the semester after loosing weeks. It was months to clear my lungs. I re-evaluated my goals and decided not to return.

In West Virginia it is the end of year test for 9th, 10th and 11th grade students. Even special needs students with IQs of 75 and below are measured by the PSAT and SAT. I agree that too many students are taking the test which brings down the averages. Nothing makes sense in public education.