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SAT® Scores Stable as Record Numbers Take Test

The College Board —Tuesday, August 26, 2008

SAT® Scores Stable as Record Numbers Take Test

NEW YORK — A record number of students in the class of 2008 took the SAT this year, with a higher percentage of first-generation students than last year and a high rate of minority student participation, the College Board announced today. This year’s average scores mirror those of last year, indicating that student performance held steady despite the increase in the number of test-takers.

The number of SAT takers rose to more than 1.5 million (1,518,859), an 8 percent increase from five years ago and a 29.5 percent increase from 10 years ago. The SAT continues to be the nation’s most widely taken standardized college admissions test. Combined with high school grades, the SAT is also the best predictor of college success.

“Student interest and participation in the SAT has grown to historic levels, and our outreach into minority, low-income and other underserved student groups is yielding tremendous results,” said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board. “More than ever, the SAT reflects the face of education in this country.

“It’s essential that all students strive to attend college — and then succeed in their classes and, ultimately, graduate. We’re gratified to see that our country is moving increasingly toward being a nation of college graduates.”

Average scores for the class of 2008 remained stable at 502 for critical reading, 515 for mathematics and 494 for writing.  

SAT Takers in the Class of 2008

· This year’s class is the most diverse class on record with historic increases in the number of Hispanic, African American and Asian American students taking the test.

· Minority SAT takers comprised 40 percent of all test-takers, up from 33 percent 10 years ago.

· The number of first-generation students has increased over the last decade and from last year. In the class of 2008, 36 percent were first-generation students, compared to 35 percent in the class of 2007.

· Females have narrowed the performance gap with males in critical reading, closing the gap to 4 points, compared with 7 points a decade ago, and females continue to outperform males on the writing section — by 13 points this year.

· A record number of students in the class of 2008 received fee waivers, with 221,962 students qualifying for and receiving them. This indicates an increase in the number of traditionally underserved students preparing for college success.

· The writing section of the SAT is the most predictive section of the test among all racial and ethnic minority groups.

· The inclusion of the writing section has also contributed to an increased emphasis on writing in the classroom.

Trends in Participation
Minority SAT takers have experienced substantial growth in participation during the last decade. Hispanics have expanded the most rapidly, more than doubling in number. Growth among Asian Americans and African Americans reached 61 percent and 52 percent, respectively.

Female students continue to form a majority of test-takers among all ethnic groups. Female students made up 57 percent of Hispanic and 57 percent of African American SAT takers in 2008. More than half of the Asian American (51 percent) and white test-takers (53 percent) were women.

Low-income students’ participation has also remained steady. These students are increasingly taking advantage of the College Board’s fee-waiver program, which granted $22 million in fee waivers and free services to qualifying students in 2008. About one out of every seven students in the 2008 cohort who took the SAT this year received free registration for up to two SAT tests and two SAT Subject Tests™, four free flexible score reports, and discounted SAT Readiness Program™ materials.

“The SAT is a fair test for all students,” said Laurence Bunin, senior vice president of operations and general manager of the SAT Program at the College Board. “It’s the test that measures what kids learn in high school and how they apply that knowledge — in college and in life beyond.”

Value of Writing Section
The SAT’s writing section has proven to be the most predictive section of the test for determining first-year college performance, as evidenced by recent studies by the College Board and independent studies by the University of California and the University of Georgia. The College Board analysis, which evaluated data from about 150,000 students at 110 four-year colleges and universities, also found the writing section to be the most predictive for all students and therefore across all racial/ethnic minority groups.

· Of all three sections of the SAT, the writing section is the most predictive of students’ freshman year college performance for all students, demonstrating that writing is a critical skill and an excellent indicator of academic success in college.

· The writing section is also the most predictive section for all racial/ethnic minority groups, which demonstrates that the SAT is a fair and valid test for all students.

A 2007 College Board report found that the SAT writing section has been a factor in the increased emphasis that many high schools and middle schools are placing on writing skills. Notable proportions of teachers (61 percent) and administrators (54 percent) indicated that the SAT writing section had been a factor in the change in importance that their schools and districts had placed on writing.

“Good writing skills are critical for student success in college across all fields of study and majors. This is an important message that’s reinforced by colleges that require admissions tests with a writing section,” said Caperton. “Colleges not requiring an admissions test with writing are overlooking one of the best predictors of college success.”

The College Board: Connecting Students to College Success
The College Board is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to connect students to college success and opportunity. Founded in 1900, the association is composed of more than 5,400 schools, colleges, universities, and other educational organizations. Each year, the College Board serves seven million students and their parents, 23,000 high schools, and 3,500 colleges through major programs and services in college admissions, guidance, assessment, financial aid, enrollment, and teaching and learning. Among its best-known programs are the SAT®, the PSAT/NMSQT®, and the Advanced Placement Program® (AP®). The College Board is committed to the principles of excellence and equity, and that commitment is embodied in all of its programs, services, activities, and concerns.

CONTACT: Jen Topiel or Alana Klein, The College Board, 212-713-8052, communications@collegeboard.org