SATs Drop Again, as Test-Optional Movement Surges

for further information:

Bob Schaeffer (239) 395-6773

mobile (239) 699-0468

for release Tuesday, September 27, 2016

“OLD” SAT SCORES DROP AGAIN;
NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING SAT SUBJECT TESTS CONTINUES TO DECLINE;
AT SAME TIME, TEST-OPTIONAL ADMISSIONS MOVEMENT SURGES
AS 32 MORE SCHOOLS SAY THEY WILL IGNORE SAT/ACT EXAM RESULTS

SAT scores for high school seniors dropped again this year, continuing a decade-long trend, according to data released today. SAT averages declined by 34 points since 2006. That is the year when the “No Child Left Behind” public school testing mandate went into effect. Score differences between racial groups increased, often significantly, over that period.

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest), said, “Test-and-punish public school policies have clearly failed. As measured by the SAT, the ‘No Child Left Behind’ era did nothing to improve college readiness or narrow racial gaps. In fact, average SAT Scores dropped from 2006 levels for every group except Asian-Americans. The ACT admissions exam and the National Assessment of Educational Progress show similar trends.”

The number of students taking SAT Subject Tests and the volume of those exams administered also declined. “Over the past five years, 24% fewer high school grads sat for any SAT Subject tests,” Schaeffer explained. “That cost the College Board, the exam’s owner, millions in lost revenue.”

Schaeffer continued, “Fortunately, many more colleges and universities recognize that they do not need SAT scores – from the old exam, the ‘redesigned’ version, or subject tests – to make quality admissions decisions. Over the last twelve months, 32 more schools dropped ACT/SAT requirements for all or many applicants. That’s the fastest annual test-optional growth ever.” A list of 870 institutions that de-emphasize admissions tests is posted athttp://www.fairtest.org/university/optional.

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2016 COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS SAT SCORES
READING MATH WRITING TOTAL
ALL TEST-TAKERS 494 508 482 1484
Female 493 494 487 1474
Male 495 524 475 1494
Amer. Indian or Alaskan Native 468 471 447 1386
Asian, Asian Amer. or Pacific Islander 529 602 534 1665
Black or African American 430 425 415 1270
Hispanic, Latino or Latin American 448 453 436 1337
Two or more races, non-Hispanic 511 505 488 1514
Other 496 519 491 1506
White 528 533 511 1572

2016 COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS SAT SCORES BY FAMILY INCOME

READING MATH WRITING TOTAL
$ 0 – $20,000 435 453 426 1314
$20,000 – $40,000 465 477 452 1394
$40,000 – $60,000 488 495 471 1454
$60,000 – $80,000 503 509 485 1497
$80,000 – $100,000 517 527 501 1545
$100,000 – $140,000 530 539 513 1582
$140,000 – $200,000 542 553 528 1623
More than $200,000 569 586 562 1717

Calculated by FairTest from: College Board, College-Bound Seniors 2016: Total Group Profile Report

Attachment Size
SAT2016ScoresRelease.pdf 201.28 KB

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