SAT Scores See Biggest Decline Since 1975

Wall Street Journal ^ | 30 August 2006 | ROBERT TOMSHO

[shrinkermd]

SAT Scores See Biggest Decline Since 1975

The high-school class of 2006 suffered the biggest drop in SAT scores in more than three decades -- a development that may raise more questions about the recently revamped exam than the students who took it.

The College Board, the New York nonprofit that gives the admissions test, says scores in critical reading -- formerly known as verbal -- fell by five points to 503, out of 800 possible points. Math scores slipped two points, to 518, also out of 800 points. The combined decrease of seven points is the biggest since 1975, when there was a 16-point drop. Overall, math scores had been rising in the past decade, while reading has been relatively flat; there have been occasional small declines in either or both scores.

The scores announced yesterday were the first to fully reflect the revised test introduced in March 2005. Along with a writing section that consists of an essay and multiple-choice questions, the new test added higher-level algebra and did away with analogy questions on the reading section. Requiring nearly four hours to complete, the test has a possible score of 2,400 points, up from 1,600 points with the old 2½-hour test.

Scores on the new writing tests averaged 497 points out of 800, with females averaging 502, 11 points higher than males.

[Jumpmaster]

Oh, got it.

[College Repub]

They're a better measure (alone) than grades are (alone). Due to how many people take the test, percentile scores from one test can be compared to percentile scores on another test for people in different states, etc. It's standardized. Local politics, teacher's pets, parental involvment, mandatory grading curves, etc can all skew grades one way or another. Grades are nearly meaningless as far as I'm concerned.

[HitmanLV]

Actually that wouldn't be all that bad. I know too many youngsters who place too much value on these tests and scores. One I knew asked me about jobs in the adult world and I told him in most cases nobody would ever ask them about their SATs every again after college selection.

The result wasn't what I expected: it was akin to panic! I think too many students identify being intelligent with doing well on the tests. When you tell them nobody cares about the tests, they don't take it very well.

It's the single most important thing validating their view of themselves. Not good, not good at all.

[mdefranc]

"NCLB is for grammar schools." - OldFriend

I find utterly no support for your assertion on their very extensive, official website.

[College Repub]

That's not telling the whole truth. While nobody will ask you what your SAT score was when you're 25, they will ask you what you were doing since you graduated. Your chances of getting your foot into the door of a good company on a good career path increase drastically based on the school you graduated from and the program you were enrolled in. Getting into top programs and schools is near impossible with low SAT scores. And some companies (investment banking firms/consulting firms) do ask for SAT scores (even after one finished graduate school) believe it or not!

[HitmanLV]

I would interpret your graphic as demonstrating that intelligence is at least somewhat heritable. If your parents did well in school (at least got more of it) then the probability is that you will do so too.

I wouldn't interpret it that way at all. First, performing well on a standardized test isn't a reliable indicator of intelligence. All it means is that you did well on the test.

I think the more education one or both parents have, the more likely they will value education in their children and help them develop the skillset to do well in school or on these type of tests.

[HitmanLV]

I took the SATs in 1983 and I did poorly. I am now a Professional Engineer with a degree in EE and BA. SATs do not mean a thing.

I agree. All they mean is that you performed well on that test, on that day.

[HitmanLV]

Every test is biased, but not in the way a lot of race hustlers insist.

Every test is biased in favor of those who have developed the skillset to perform well on the test.

Develop the skillset, improve results on the test.

[ahayes]

All students average: 497
Females average: 502
Males average: 491

[HitmanLV]

1. Four hours is a long time to be sitting in a room with a number two pencil and a bubble sheet.

Wait until they are sentenced to spend long workdays in a cubicle, a small office, or worst of all, a 90 minute department meeting where some moron higher on the chain speaks of the importance of how the team must come together, 'think outside the box,' and help craft a new 'pair-a-dig-um.'

No joke, at one of my old companies the head of the department was a complete moron who had just been around forever and pronounced 'paradigm' as 'pair-a-dig-um.'

I never missed that company.

[GSlob]

Abominable. One would think that the bright parents [those with graduate degrees, especially the Asians with their cultural premium on learning] would get their progeny into 1450-1600 SAT range, and instead they are merely in 1000's, I remember the Duke Louis of Orleans rueing the numbers of "people of low degree and doubtful birth" - and even 610 years ago he surely knew what he was talking about. The degrees, even if graduate, are low, and the births are doubtful, too.

[Gorzaloon]

I could have predicted this.

It happens like clockwork.

My local RE Taxes went up 10% FOR THE CHILDREN, so that little Caitlin and Brent can have an olympic swimming pool at the school, and Astroturf on the Football field.

-While they are being warehoused by their too-busy parents.

Can't have them come home too EARLY, you know. They might get cause someone INCONVENIENCE.

Yup, I am bitter and disgusted. Every time we throw more money down the rat-hole, performance in important subjects declines.

[GSlob]

By their mispronunciations shall ye know their rank: 'perspectives' - 'perespectives' - 'prespectives'...[the last one signifieth a Board member or a "sweep" - a Senior VP]

[HitmanLV]

I know some companies in some fields ask for SAT scores, but most don't.

A good school and good grades tend to impact where you start on your career path, but don't really tell you much as to where you will wind up on your career path.

At age 25 your work record will have some weight, as will the school you attended.

At age 30, your work record and skillset will have more weight, and your school will have less.

At age 35, your work record will have still more weight, and your school will have even less.

I've helped evaluate and hire 100s of people in the field of law for a top tier law firm, both entry level and laterals. We never asked for SAT scores, not even close.

Depends on the industry, but as a general principle the SAT scores won't ever come up again after you get into college.

[HitmanLV]

Haha! So true! ;-)

[Erasmus]

Just remember:

Life,

is like an analogy.

[staytrue]

While some might try to tie results to race, it appears that race plays a smaller part than cultural factors.

I think it shows race and education to be the same. It shows whites/asians doing about 200 pts. better than blacks of the same educational level and it shows kids of graduate school parents doing about 200 pts. better than kids of the same race but less than HS parents.

[Cold Heat]

Arkansas scores were up, according to a recent report here.

Apparently there is more to this story.

[Erasmus]

Its true on it's face:

Many principles have no principals.

[Neidermeyer]

It may say more about the state of our system of education than about the test.

---

It says worlds about our public schools ,,, my nephew scored well but had to take remedial courses in almost all subjects and flunked out of a mediocre state school... What no-one has mentioned is that YOU GET 200 points on both halves of the test just for putting your name on the paper ,, SERIOUS GRADE INFLATION (put in place around 1990 or so) ON THE SAT,, high schools are so dumbed down that any bright child is bored to tears and left totally unchallenged..