Serendipity35

The average scores on the SAT fell two points this year. On average it dropped a point each in critical reading and in writing. It stayed level in mathematics. The drops are smaller than the six-point decrease last year. Scores were pretty flat for a few year before that.

What does it mean? Does it mean anything?

The average scores on the ACT were flat this year. The ACT overtook the SAT this year in the number of test-takers by by about 2,000 students. Both exams had more than 1.66 million test-takers.

The College Board's own report says that most students aren't taking the courses that would prepare them to do well in college.

More disturbing is the data that shows that gaps in the average scores and levels of preparation for college in different racial, ethnic groups and different socioeconomic backgrounds.

• 80 percent of white students who took the SAT completed the core curriculum, as did 73 percent of Asian students, but only 69 percent of Latino and 65 percent of black students did.


• 84 percent of those who took the SAT from families with at least $200,000 in family income completed the core curriculum, but only 65 percent of those with family income under $20,000 did so.


• In mathematics, where there is the largest gap between Asian Americans and other groups in SAT scores, 47 percent of Asian Americans who took the SAT reported taking Advanced Placement and/or honors mathematics, compared to 40 percent of white students, 31 percent of Latino students and 25 percent of black students.