Current:Home > NewsACT test scores for US students drop to new 30-year low-VaTradeCoin
ACT test scores for US students drop to new 30-year low
View Date:2025-01-19 03:38:39
High school students’ scores on the ACT college admissions test have dropped to their lowest in more than three decades, showing a lack of student preparedness for college-level coursework, according to the nonprofit organization that administers the test.
Scores have been falling for six consecutive years, but the trend accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Students in the class of 2023 whose scores were reported Wednesday were in their first year of high school when the virus reached the U.S.
“The hard truth is that we are not doing enough to ensure that graduates are truly ready for postsecondary success in college and career,” said Janet Godwin, chief executive officer for the nonprofit ACT.
The average ACT composite score for U.S. students was 19.5 out of 36. Last year, the average score was 19.8.
The average scores in reading, science and math all were below benchmarks the ACT says students must reach to have a high probability of success in first-year college courses. The average score in English was just above the benchmark but still declined compared to last year.
Many universities have made standardized admissions tests optional amid criticism that they favor the wealthy and put low-income students at a disadvantage. Some including the University of California system do not consider ACT or SAT scores even if submitted.
Godwin said the scores are still helpful for placing students in the right college courses and preparing academic advisors to better support students.
“In terms of college readiness, even in a test-optional environment, these kinds of objective test scores about academic readiness are incredibly important,” Godwin said.
At Denise Cabrera’s high school in Hawaii, all students are required to take the ACT as juniors. She said she would have taken it anyway to improve her chances of getting into college.
“Honestly, I’m unsure why the test was ever required because colleges can look at different qualities of the students who are applying outside of just a one-time test score,” said Denise, a 17-year-old senior at Waianae High School.
She’s looking at schools including the California Institute of Technology, which implemented a five-year moratorium on the standardized test score requirements during the pandemic. Denise said she knows the school is not considering scores but she doesn’t want to limit her options elsewhere.
About 1.4 million students in the U.S. took the ACT this year, an increase from last year. However, the numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Godwin said she doesn’t believe those numbers will ever fully recover, partly because of test-optional admission policies.
Of students who were tested, only 21% met benchmarks for success in college-level classes in all subjects. Research from the nonprofit shows students who meet those benchmarks have a 50% chance of earning a B or better and nearly a 75% chance of earning a C or better in corresponding courses.
___
This story has been corrected to show that Denise Cabrera attends Waianae High School, not Waimea High School.
___
The Associated Press education team receives support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
veryGood! (845)
Related
- Stock market today: Asian shares meander, tracking Wall Street’s mixed finish as dollar surges
- Ed Sheeran Wins in Copyright Trial Over Thinking Out Loud
- Climate Change Is Happening in the U.S. Now, Federal Report Says — in Charts
- 24-Hour Deal: Save 50% On the Drybar Interchangeable Curling Iron With 15.2K+ Sephora Loves
- Infowars auction could determine whether Alex Jones is kicked off its platforms
- How has your state's abortion law affected your life? Share your story
- Judges Question EPA’s Lifting of Ban on Climate Super Pollutant HFCs
- Ozone, Mercury, Ash, CO2: Regulations Take on Coal’s Dirty Underside
- NFL coaches diversity report 2024: Gains at head coach, setbacks at offensive coordinator
- Trendsetting Manhattan Leads in Methane Leaks, Too
Ranking
- Michigan soldier’s daughter finally took a long look at his 250 WWII letters
- Portland Passes Resolution Opposing New Oil Transport Hub
- Utah district bans Bible in elementary and middle schools after complaint calls it sex-ridden
- Vanderpump Rules Alum Kristen Doute Weighs In on Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss’ Affair
- 32-year-old Maryland woman dies after golf cart accident
- Tearful Derek Hough Reflects on the Shock of Len Goodman’s Death
- Rihanna's Makeup Artist Reveals the Most Useful Hack to Keep Red Lipstick From Smearing
- How realistic are the post-Roe abortion workarounds that are filling social media?
Recommendation
-
Arbitrator upholds 5-year bans of Bad Bunny baseball agency leaders, cuts agent penalty to 3 years
-
Mike MacCracken
-
Highlighting the Allure of Synfuels, Exxon Played Down the Climate Risks
-
I Tested Out Some Under-the-Radar Beauty Products From CLE Cosmetics— Here's My Honest Review
-
Ariana Grande Shares Dad's Emotional Reaction to Using His Last Name in Wicked Credits
-
Young adults are using marijuana and hallucinogens at the highest rates on record
-
Kourtney Kardashian's Stepdaughter Alabama Barker Claps Back at Makeup and Age Comments
-
Avoiding the tap water in Jackson, Miss., has been a way of life for decades