Average SAT Scores at Lowest Since 1999

[TheDoorbellRang]

My initial reaction to this was 'No Child Left Behind' because they're all left behind, but then as I read on, I realized this was just another example of Lies, Damn lies, and Statistics. I've highlighted the pertinent parts, which don't make such a splashy headline:

Average SAT Scores at Lowest Since 1999

Tuesday August 28, 2007 4:46 PM


By JUSTIN POPE

AP Education Writer

The class of 2007 averaged the lowest math and reading SAT scores since 1999, the College Board reported Tuesday.

Last spring's high school seniors scored on average 502, out of a possible 800 points, on the critical reading section of the country's most popular college entrance exam, down from 503 for the class of 2006. Math scores fell three points from 518 to 515.

The declines follow a seven-point drop last year for the first class to take a lengthened and redesigned SAT, which included higher-level math questions and eliminated analogies. The College Board, which owns the exam, insisted the new exam wasn't harder and attributed last year's drop to fewer students taking it a second time. Students typically fare about 30 points better when they take the exam again.

The College Board's report Tuesday noted that a record number of students - just short of 1.5 million - took the test. The cohort of test-takers also was the most diverse ever, with minority students accounting for 39 percent: There has been a persistent gap between the scores of whites and the two largest U.S. minority groups, Hispanics and blacks.

more...

I guess the title wouldn't be as dramatic if it said:

More Students Taking SAT Than Ever, (Obviously) Resulting In Lower Average Scores

or

Some Kids Can't Afford the Extra Money to Take SAT Twice to Raise Their Score


http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-6881036,00.html

[TahitiNut]

1. Are you saying they SAT on their Left Behind?

:silly:

[Madspirit]

3. "Are you saying they SAT on their Left Behind?"

:rofl:

Clever Tahiti...

How do you just sit on your Left Behind?

Lee

[TahitiNut]

9. It's easy for a leftist like me.

:dunce:

[TheDoorbellRang]

6. Well, they couldn't get their ACT together!

:rofl:

[jgraz]

2. The chinese lead paint is finally starting to have an effect

:shrug:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

4. It's down to 502 from 503.

Looks like somebody's statistical analysis got left behind.

[Madspirit]

5. k&r

...and welcome to DU.
Lee

[TheDoorbellRang]

7. Thanks!

:hi:

[lapfog_1]

8. eliminated analogies and included more higher level math...

analogies often measure intelligence and the ability to generalize and reason, which is why the Mensa test is filled with analogy type questions. More "pure math" questions would likely measure skills with math and rote answers (memory as opposed to reasoning). My guess is that with our "No Child Left Behind" teach to the test current fetish... this is what we get... at least till everyone enrolls in the pre-SAT course and is taught to the new test.

Sigh.

Dumbing down the nation continues.

[hughee99]

12. Dumbing down?

It sounds to me like more people are taking the test than ever, many only get a chance to take it once (even though there is usually significant improvement for those who take the test more than once) and despite both of these factors which you would expect to suppress scores, scores are still better than they were in 1999. I'm not saying things are great, but there are certainly signs of hope here.

I do agree with your analysis of analogies, though.

[lapfog_1]

14. Yes, having more people take the SATs is good

and might cause the average score to decrease (or might not).

However, by taking out the "reasoning" questions, all the test does now is figure out if you know how to do math mechanical problems (integrate this, solve for that, etc). Which are mostly rote memorization.

That, IMHO, is testing people who only know how to memorize things, which the "test early and often" and "teach to the test" are the worst aspects of NCLB. Instead of getting kids to think for themselves and reason things out they teach them just enough to pass the next standard test (mostly so the school district gets all of its federal funding). This has been called (not by me) the "Dumbing Down of America".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumbing_down

[SoCalDem]

10. I sure don't envy today's kids..

Waaay back when I took the test, we just showed up with our pencils, breezed through the test and headed for the lake.. No one much cared what they scored.. (I don't recall my score or if I ever even asked what it was..)

No one took "prep" tests..or even wondered what their score was..

[DaveJ]

11. Don't worry, it's no different at least with my kids

...or their friends. Meeting dozens of their friends I'm yet to meet one who really cares.

[SoCalDem]

13. That's good to know.. There's enough stress these days..