SAT scores at lowest level in 10 years

From WaPo:

Scores on the SAT have sunk to the lowest level since the college admission test was overhauled in 2005, adding to worries about student performance in the nation’s high schools.

The average score for the Class of 2015 was 1490 out of a maximum 2400, the College Board reported Thursday. That was down 7 points from the previous class’s mark and was the lowest composite score of the past decade. There were declines of at least 2 points on all three sections of the test — critical reading, math and writing.

The steady decline in SAT scores and generally stagnant results from high schools on federal tests and other measures reflect a troubling shortcoming of education-reform efforts. The test results show that gains in reading and math in elementary grades haven’t led to broad improvement in high schools, experts say. That means several hundred thousand teenagers, especially those who grew up poor, are leaving school every year unready for college.

SAT scores at lowest level in 10 years, fueling worries about high schools - The Washington Post

What can be done to turn this continuing decline around?

nota bene said:

What can be done to turn this continuing decline around?

Click to expand...

Should I assume here that you mean "except for requiring a licences to breed"?

And smart phones were supposed to make us, well ...smarter!

nota bene said:

What can be done to turn this continuing decline around?

Click to expand...

Several things, but primarily dump the SAT in favor of the ACT.

The SAT is a measure of aptitude, verbal reasoning, and developed educational ability core skills. It has been widely problematic at being accurate in that assessment for any of what I have listed. The disparity among race for the SAT is worse than the disparity among general advancement grades (at least it was the last time I checked.) It has been changed several times over to adapt to No Child Left Behind and to account for Common Core, and even the writing assessment is inaccurate and subjective. The SAT tends to be "trendy" with its questions and expected answers (including the trip-up close but still wrong answers.) The SAT overall national average is often brought down by the number of participants taking the test (as the article suggests.)

The ACT on the other hand tends to be more straightforward in questioning, tests a wider understanding of math and science (which the SAT glances over at best,) and gives a better big picture assessment of what the student actually picked up from high school curriculum. The ACT is more established, tends to not penalize the student so often for reasoning, and does not seem to show the association to number of participants taking the test lowering the overall average scores that the SAT does.

Overall for the SAT though it is tough to "do something" to improve in terms of scores nationally. The SAT is not designed to be a test you teach to but rather you become more adapt at taking from raw practice, skills help, and of course tutoring in taking such a test. Learning the pitfalls, and developing the skill set to deduce the answer without guessing.

Minor consequence!

Now let's get to the really important question: "Are the kids getting a good & thorough understanding of Creationism"?

/facetiousness

Perhaps they could go back to making schools 'schools' and not social indoctrination cesspools. They could teach, raise expectations, fail Junior when he fails, and tell momma to get bent when she comes whining that you dared to fail Junior. Perhaps if they were worried more about higher education standards than whether or not they can invent the next trans-whatever homecoming queen things would get better.

nota bene said:

From WaPo:

Scores on the SAT have sunk to the lowest level since the college admission test was overhauled in 2005, adding to worries about student performance in the nation’s high schools.

The average score for the Class of 2015 was 1490 out of a maximum 2400, the College Board reported Thursday. That was down 7 points from the previous class’s mark and was the lowest composite score of the past decade. There were declines of at least 2 points on all three sections of the test — critical reading, math and writing.

The steady decline in SAT scores and generally stagnant results from high schools on federal tests and other measures reflect a troubling shortcoming of education-reform efforts. The test results show that gains in reading and math in elementary grades haven’t led to broad improvement in high schools, experts say. That means several hundred thousand teenagers, especially those who grew up poor, are leaving school every year unready for college.

SAT scores at lowest level in 10 years, fueling worries about high schools - The Washington Post

What can be done to turn this continuing decline around?

Click to expand...

As a Junior about to take the SAT and who has taken the PSAT...

They have no bearing on someone's intelligence. That is why many school are beginning to take it out as a requirement for getting in.

I'm not particularly sweating over it. Of course I'll study for it and such, but like I said, the test, when you see it, has zero ****ing bearing on a person's intelligence. Zero... Memorization memorization memorization.

****. We have google today. There is no need to memorize when exactly some **** did something in July 1st of 1623. Critical thinking is becoming the major focus in my school.

Like my history teacher, a Yale graduate, said to us in the first day of class, "I don't care if you know what some king did in 1625. It's more important to critically analyze the social, political, religious, etc. impacts of that decision the king made, not what exact date it was when it was passed."

OrphanSlug said:

Several things, but primarily dump the SAT in favor of the ACT.

The SAT is a measure of aptitude, verbal reasoning, and developed educational ability core skills. It has been widely problematic at being accurate in that assessment for any of what I have listed. The disparity among race for the SAT is worse than the disparity among general advancement grades (at least it was the last time I checked.) It has been changed several times over to adapt to No Child Left Behind and to account for Common Core, and even the writing assessment is inaccurate and subjective. The SAT tends to be "trendy" with its questions and expected answers (including the trip-up close but still wrong answers.) The SAT overall national average is often brought down by the number of participants taking the test (as the article suggests.)

The ACT on the other hand tends to be more straightforward in questioning, tests a wider understanding of math and science (which the SAT glances over at best,) and gives a better big picture assessment of what the student actually picked up from high school curriculum. The ACT is more established, tends to not penalize the student so often for reasoning, and does not seem to show the association to number of participants taking the test lowering the overall average scores that the SAT does.

Overall for the SAT though it is tough to "do something" to improve in terms of scores nationally. The SAT is not designed to be a test you teach to but rather you become more adapt at taking from raw practice, skills help, and of course tutoring in taking such a test. Learning the pitfalls, and developing the skill set to deduce the answer without guessing.

Click to expand...

Exactly.

In general terms, SAT is weighted to aptitude & skills testing, whereas ACT is weighted to knowledge testing.

"The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities."

Source: ACT.org - 'FAQ'

Luftwaffe said:

As a Junior about to take the SAT and who has taken the PSAT...

They have no bearing on someone's intelligence. That is why many school are beginning to take it out as a requirement for getting in.

I'm not particularly sweating over it. Of course I'll study for it and such, but like I said, the test, when you see it, has zero ****ing bearing on a person's intelligence. Zero... Memorization memorization memorization.

****. We have google today. There is no need to memorize when exactly some **** did something in July 1st of 1623. Critical thinking is becoming the major focus in my school.

Like my history teacher, a Yale graduate, said to us in the first day of class, "I don't care if you know what some king did in 1625. It's more important to critically analyze the social, political, religious, etc. impacts of that decision the king made, not what exact date it was when it was passed."

Click to expand...

FWIW, my recent H.S. grad decided to completely eschew the competitive "SAT/ACT/university admittance/fight for Scholarship money" environment, and is instead going to the local community college for a 2+2 program where he'll then transfer after his first 2 years to the university.

He just didn't want to deal with the competitive stress - and he's both an honors/AP student & member of the National Honor Society, so he's no slacker! He did take the ACT as a formality though, and got a reasonable score. (the community college needed only a 22 for full unencumbered admittance into the 2+2 programs)

He just started at the community college, and seems happy with his decision - and I'm saving money!

But I must admit: My local in-district community college is well-ranked, and they have a coordinated statewide program (including shared I.T. systems) where my son's community college academics will be fully accepted by his target university, and he will seamlessly slip into his junior year there. He meets every semester with his adviser at the university, and together they review his progress and select his classes using the university's real-time shared data-system with the community college, so his advising is done predominately through the university.

I really can't say if he would've taken this route if he didn't have a quality community college having the above mentioned 2+2 program admitting him into his first choice university - but I can say the kid was way less stressed than his other H.S. buddies playing the traditional game (prep for the tests, dry test, test, re-test, research & apply everywhere, evaluate the offers, negotiate money, etc.).

He's unstressed in terms of testing & competition, and I'm unstressed in terms of financial demands --> so we're both smiling!

(BTW, re: your last sentence - I agree in general, but do believe dates (at least in general) are also important so one can understand events in the context of the times and in relation to other events occurring concurrently)

MORE MONEY= Better Education

/sarcasm off

Chomsky said:

Exactly.

In general terms, SAT is weighted to aptitude & skills testing, whereas ACT is weighted to knowledge testing.

"The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities."

Source: ACT.org - 'FAQ'

Click to expand...

I did SOOO much better on my SAT than ACT... they were worlds apart... my SAT I got a 1400/1600

ACT like 23-24 on everything... the problem with ACT is I am a really slow test taker, so I didn't finish large portions of that test on each section.

celticwar17 said:

I did SOOO much better on my SAT than ACT... they were worlds apart... my SAT I got a 1400/1600

ACT like 23-24 on everything... the problem with ACT is I am a really slow test taker, so I didn't finish large portions of that test on each section.

Click to expand...

I hope you guessed or filled-in the unfinished portions - ACT does not penalize wrong answers.

nota bene said:

From WaPo:

Scores on the SAT have sunk to the lowest level since the college admission test was overhauled in 2005, adding to worries about student performance in the nation’s high schools.

The average score for the Class of 2015 was 1490 out of a maximum 2400, the College Board reported Thursday. That was down 7 points from the previous class’s mark and was the lowest composite score of the past decade. There were declines of at least 2 points on all three sections of the test — critical reading, math and writing.

The steady decline in SAT scores and generally stagnant results from high schools on federal tests and other measures reflect a troubling shortcoming of education-reform efforts. The test results show that gains in reading and math in elementary grades haven’t led to broad improvement in high schools, experts say. That means several hundred thousand teenagers, especially those who grew up poor, are leaving school every year unready for college.

SAT scores at lowest level in 10 years, fueling worries about high schools - The Washington Post

What can be done to turn this continuing decline around?

Click to expand...

stop teaching one fits all common core and allow teachers to adjust their teaching methods to the students.
kids aren't learning anything they are just memorizing stuff to pass local standardized tests.

the SAT and ACT tests require a bit more knowledge and insight into what you are looking at.

Chomsky said:

(BTW, re: your last sentence - I agree in general, but do believe dates (at least in general) are also important so one can understand events in the context of the times and in relation to other events occurring concurrently)

Click to expand...

Well, we need to know the centuries and the decades and such. But emphasis is put on analyzing the impacts of the decisions, not that they occurred specifically in June 3rd or something.

Chomsky said:

Exactly.

In general terms, SAT is weighted to aptitude & skills testing, whereas ACT is weighted to knowledge testing.

"The ACT is an achievement test, measuring what a student has learned in school. The SAT is more of an aptitude test, testing reasoning and verbal abilities."

Source: ACT.org - 'FAQ'

Click to expand...

both are highly inaccurate though. both have things on there that if you don't take in high school you won't know how to solve.
when I was in high school I got up to algebra 2. I didn't take trig or calculus.

so I was at a bit of a disadvantage on both tests. I don't think I actually took the SAT. I took the PSAT and at the time didn't do that well.
why? because stuff I hadn't learned was on it. I did better on the ACT than the PSAT.

The SAT tests are complete and utter bull feces.

Most worthless "test" ever.

Scrap it and call it a day.

ludin said:

both are highly inaccurate though. both have things on there that if you don't take in high school you won't know how to solve.
when I was in high school I got up to algebra 2. I didn't take trig or calculus.

so I was at a bit of a disadvantage on both tests. I don't think I actually took the SAT. I took the PSAT and at the time didn't do that well.
why? because stuff I hadn't learned was on it. I did better on the ACT than the PSAT.

Click to expand...

I agree.

If you've never seen or covered the material on either, you're at a distinct disadvantage.

So yeah, the kids having taken the more advanced & AP classes naturally do better.

Sad that our kids are under so much pressure - but that's just the way it is.

Chomsky said:

I agree.

If you've never seen or covered the material on either, you're at a distinct disadvantage.

So yeah, the kids having taken the more advanced & AP classes naturally do better.

Sad that our kids are under so much pressure - but that's just the way it is.

Click to expand...

yea I had to take both trig and calc for my first degree. that wasn't fun. I barely passed trig and I had to take calc over again,
but I passed it the second time, however I wasn't much into the whole college thing then either.

my second degree went by much better. made the honor society with that one.

Luftwaffe said:

As a Junior about to take the SAT and who has taken the PSAT...

They have no bearing on someone's intelligence. That is why many school are beginning to take it out as a requirement for getting in.

I'm not particularly sweating over it. Of course I'll study for it and such, but like I said, the test, when you see it, has zero ****ing bearing on a person's intelligence. Zero... Memorization memorization memorization.

****. We have google today. There is no need to memorize when exactly some **** did something in July 1st of 1623. Critical thinking is becoming the major focus in my school.

Like my history teacher, a Yale graduate, said to us in the first day of class, "I don't care if you know what some king did in 1625. It's more important to critically analyze the social, political, religious, etc. impacts of that decision the king made, not what exact date it was when it was passed."

Click to expand...

since when does the SAT score reflect only memorization skills?
oh. never.

VanceMack said:

Perhaps they could go back to making schools 'schools' and not social indoctrination cesspools. They could teach, raise expectations, fail Junior when he fails, and tell momma to get bent when she comes whining that you dared to fail Junior. Perhaps if they were worried more about higher education standards than whether or not they can invent the next trans-whatever homecoming queen things would get better.

Click to expand...

Everything these days is about "student success," even at the university level. Every student must believe that he or she has the "opportunity" to "succeed" in every class.

In plain English, "student success" means lowered standards and grade inflation.

SlevinKelevra said:

since when does the SAT score reflect only memorization skills?
oh. never.

Click to expand...

:lamo

Chomsky said:

I agree.

If you've never seen or covered the material on either, you're at a distinct disadvantage.

So yeah, the kids having taken the more advanced & AP classes naturally do better.

Sad that our kids are under so much pressure - but that's just the way it is.

Click to expand...

Eh, like I noted, schools are beginning to disregard tests like the SATs. People are moving forward, that doesn't mean school doesn't put us younglings under pressure, but it's not unnecessary pressure at least.

Besides, being subjected to pressure is good for growth.

nota bene said:

What can be done to turn this continuing decline around?

Click to expand...

Oh we need to fund education more - if we just raised taxes a bit we could put another 20-30 billion towards the already failing public school system because you know, throwing bad money after good is all we are conditioned to do any more.

VanceMack said:

Perhaps they could go back to making schools 'schools' and not social indoctrination cesspools. They could teach, raise expectations, fail Junior when he fails, and tell momma to get bent when she comes whining that you dared to fail Junior. Perhaps if they were worried more about higher education standards than whether or not they can invent the next trans-whatever homecoming queen things would get better.

Click to expand...

Boilerplate-Ditto-head drivel that doesn't amount to a hill of beans.

Public schools are for ****.

Anyone that says otherwise has probably not been to both a good private AND a 'decent' public school (to compare) or has other 'issues'.

I went to both - on several occasions in several locations and the worst private school was MILES better then the best public school I attended.

Public schools are supposed to be for children whose parents are so useless at providing for them that they cannot afford to send them to even a cheaper private school. They are NOT supposed to be for the majority...more like a school of last resort for the poor.
Unfortunately, the majority attend them.

Proportion of U.S. Students in Private Schools is 10 Percent and Declining | Jack Jennings

Public schools in America are like food stamps - they suffice...but barely.