American Scores on College Admissions Test Drop to 30-year Low
2023-10-22
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1American high school students' scores on the ACT college admissions test have dropped to their lowest in more than 30 years.
2The average score of students who completed high school in 2023 was 19.5 out of a possible 36.
3Last year, students averaged 19.8.
4The average score dropped for the sixth straight year.
5Scores were already falling before the COVID-19 pandemic.
6But the scores fell faster during and after the pandemic period.
7The students who took the test in 2023 were in their first year of high school when COVID-19 reached the United States.
8Janet Godwin leads ACT, the nonprofit organization that administers the test.
9She said that high schools are "not doing enough to ensure that graduates are truly ready for postsecondary success in college and career."
10The average scores in reading, math and science were all below the level that ACT says demonstrates a good chance of succeeding in first-year college courses.
11The average score in English was just above the "benchmark" level, but it was still lower than in 2022.
12The falling scores come at the same time many colleges and universities established admissions policies that do not require the test.
13However, students are welcome to provide the scores if they wish.
14Some universities do not look at test scores even if students send them in.
15College admission tests have been criticized for favoring students who come from wealthier families and schools.
16Godwin, however, said the test scores from her organization still help universities place students in the proper classes.
17"Even in a test-optional environment, these kinds of objective test scores about academic readiness are incredibly important," she said.
18Some current high school students wonder why the tests are necessary.
19Denise Cabrera is a 17-year-old in Hawaii.
20She said all of her classmates had to take the test in 11th grade.
21Cabrera said she believed taking it and getting a good score would help her get into a good college.
22But she thinks colleges and universities can learn more about a student by looking at "different qualities ... outside of just a one-time test score."
23Godwin said about 1.4 million high school students took the test this year.
24That was an increase over 2022 but still below the numbers recorded before the pandemic.
25Only 21 percent of students reached the levels the ACT organization believes are necessary to predict good success in college.
26I'm Dan Friedell.
1American high school students' scores on the ACT college admissions test have dropped to their lowest in more than 30 years. 2The average score of students who completed high school in 2023 was 19.5 out of a possible 36. Last year, students averaged 19.8. 3The average score dropped for the sixth straight year. 4Scores were already falling before the COVID-19 pandemic. But the scores fell faster during and after the pandemic period. 5The students who took the test in 2023 were in their first year of high school when COVID-19 reached the United States. 6Janet Godwin leads ACT, the nonprofit organization that administers the test. She said that high schools are "not doing enough to ensure that graduates are truly ready for postsecondary success in college and career." 7The average scores in reading, math and science were all below the level that ACT says demonstrates a good chance of succeeding in first-year college courses. The average score in English was just above the "benchmark" level, but it was still lower than in 2022. 8The falling scores come at the same time many colleges and universities established admissions policies that do not require the test. However, students are welcome to provide the scores if they wish. 9Some universities do not look at test scores even if students send them in. College admission tests have been criticized for favoring students who come from wealthier families and schools. 10Godwin, however, said the test scores from her organization still help universities place students in the proper classes. 11"Even in a test-optional environment, these kinds of objective test scores about academic readiness are incredibly important," she said. 12Some current high school students wonder why the tests are necessary. Denise Cabrera is a 17-year-old in Hawaii. She said all of her classmates had to take the test in 11th grade. 13Cabrera said she believed taking it and getting a good score would help her get into a good college. But she thinks colleges and universities can learn more about a student by looking at "different qualities ... outside of just a one-time test score." 14Godwin said about 1.4 million high school students took the test this year. That was an increase over 2022 but still below the numbers recorded before the pandemic. 15Only 21 percent of students reached the levels the ACT organization believes are necessary to predict good success in college. 16I'm Dan Friedell. 17Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. 18_____________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20postsecondary -adj. school or work that comes after high school 21bechmark -n. a score or result that is of a certain (often high) standard 22academic -adj. having to do with school or education 23incredibly -adv. used to amplify the importance of the word coming next, hard to believe 24grade -n. the year a person is in school 25We want to hear from you. How are students doing on college tests where you live?