ACT Test Scores in US Fall to Lowest in 30 Years
2022-10-16
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1This year's results on a U.S. college admissions test are the lowest they have been in 30 years.
2Experts say the results are the latest evidence of learning interference caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
3The American College Test, or ACT, is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States.
4The ACT is administered by a nonprofit organization of the same name.
5The class of 2022 average ACT score was 19.8 out of 36.
6It marks the first time since 1991 that the average score was below 20.
7In addition, an increasing number of high school students failed to meet any of the subject-area benchmarks, or targets, set by the ACT.
8This shows a drop in preparedness for college-level studies.
9The test results were made public in a report on Wednesday.
10The report shows that 42 percent of ACT-tested graduates in the class of 2022 met none of the subject benchmarks in English, reading, science, and math.
11These benchmarks are considered predictions for how students might perform in college classes.
12In 2021, 38 percent of ACT test takers failed to meet any of the benchmarks.
13"Academic preparedness is where we are seeing the decline," said Rose Babington.
14She is senior director for state partnerships for the ACT.
15ACT scores have been dropping steadily in recent years.
16However, the large drop during this past year is "particularly alarming," said ACT chief executive officer Janet Godwin.
17Godwin added, "We see rapidly growing numbers of seniors leaving high school without meeting college-readiness benchmarks in any of the subjects we measure."
18The results also offer a look into systemic unfairness in education that existed before the pandemic closed schools.
19For example, students who are not offered high-level classes in high school suffered more during the pandemic, Babington said.
20Those students usually are from rural areas or come from poorer families and are often students of color.
21The number of high school students taking the ACT has dropped 30 percent since 2018.
22That is because high school graduates are increasingly not going to college.
23Also, some universities no longer require standardized test scores for admission.
24Standardized tests such as the ACT have faced growing concerns that they are unfair to minority and low-income students.
25Students who take costly test preparation classes or advanced classes in high school often perform better.
26Babington defended the test as a measure of college readiness.
27"Now more than ever, the last few years have shown us the importance of having high-quality data to help inform how we support students," Babington said.
28Colleges and universities are increasingly ending long-standing requirements for standardized tests.
29The University of California system even has a "test-blind" policy.
30This means that test scores are not considered even if they are supplied.
31But many students still take the tests.
32If their scores are high, they may have an advantage over other students.
33Tyrone Jordan is a first-year student at Arizona State University, which does not require standardized test scores.
34He said he took the ACT and the SAT to get ahead of other students and to help him receive money in the form of scholarships.
35Jordan said he wants to study mechanical engineering.
36He said he thinks the difficult classes at Tempe Preparatory Academy prepared him for college.
37His standardized test results helped support him and his family financially.
38Jordan said, "All the test did for me was give me extra financial money."
39I'm Dan Friedell.
1This year's results on a U.S. college admissions test are the lowest they have been in 30 years. Experts say the results are the latest evidence of learning interference caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 2The American College Test, or ACT, is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. The ACT is administered by a nonprofit organization of the same name. 3The class of 2022 average ACT score was 19.8 out of 36. It marks the first time since 1991 that the average score was below 20. 4In addition, an increasing number of high school students failed to meet any of the subject-area benchmarks, or targets, set by the ACT. This shows a drop in preparedness for college-level studies. 5The test results were made public in a report on Wednesday. The report shows that 42 percent of ACT-tested graduates in the class of 2022 met none of the subject benchmarks in English, reading, science, and math. 6These benchmarks are considered predictions for how students might perform in college classes. In 2021, 38 percent of ACT test takers failed to meet any of the benchmarks. 7"Academic preparedness is where we are seeing the decline," said Rose Babington. She is senior director for state partnerships for the ACT. 8ACT scores have been dropping steadily in recent years. However, the large drop during this past year is "particularly alarming," said ACT chief executive officer Janet Godwin. 9Godwin added, "We see rapidly growing numbers of seniors leaving high school without meeting college-readiness benchmarks in any of the subjects we measure." 10The results also offer a look into systemic unfairness in education that existed before the pandemic closed schools. 11For example, students who are not offered high-level classes in high school suffered more during the pandemic, Babington said. Those students usually are from rural areas or come from poorer families and are often students of color. 12The number of high school students taking the ACT has dropped 30 percent since 2018. That is because high school graduates are increasingly not going to college. Also, some universities no longer require standardized test scores for admission. 13Standardized tests such as the ACT have faced growing concerns that they are unfair to minority and low-income students. Students who take costly test preparation classes or advanced classes in high school often perform better. 14Babington defended the test as a measure of college readiness. "Now more than ever, the last few years have shown us the importance of having high-quality data to help inform how we support students," Babington said. 15Colleges and universities are increasingly ending long-standing requirements for standardized tests. The University of California system even has a "test-blind" policy. This means that test scores are not considered even if they are supplied. 16But many students still take the tests. If their scores are high, they may have an advantage over other students. 17Tyrone Jordan is a first-year student at Arizona State University, which does not require standardized test scores. He said he took the ACT and the SAT to get ahead of other students and to help him receive money in the form of scholarships. 18Jordan said he wants to study mechanical engineering. He said he thinks the difficult classes at Tempe Preparatory Academy prepared him for college. His standardized test results helped support him and his family financially. 19Jordan said, "All the test did for me was give me extra financial money." 20I'm Dan Friedell. 21Cheyanne Mumphrey reported this story for The Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. 22______________________________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24standardized - adj. to bring into conformity with a standard 25benchmark - n. something that serves as a standard by which others may be measured or judged 26decline - n. a change to a lower state or level : v. to tend toward an inferior state or weaker condition 27alarming - adj. causing people to feel danger or to be worried or frightened 28rapidly - adv. marked by a fast rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence 29senior - n. a student in the year preceding graduation from a school of secondary or higher level 30income - n. a gain or recurrent benefit usually measured in money that derives from capital or labor 31advantage - n. superiority of position or condition 32scholarship - n. a grant-in-aid to a student (as by a college or foundation) 33______________________________________________________________________ 34We want to hear from you. Do you have college admission tests where you live? How do people feel about them? 35We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 36Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.