ACT Test Scores in US Fall to Lowest in 30 Years

This year's results on a U.S. college admissions test are the lowest they have been in 30 years. Experts say the results are the latest evidence of learning interference caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The American College Test, or ACT, is a standardized¹ test used for college admissions in the United States. The ACT is administered by a nonprofit organization of the same name.

The class of 2022 average ACT score was 19.8 out of 36. It marks the first time since 1991 that the average score was below 20.

In addition, an increasing number of high school students failed to meet any of the subject-area benchmarks, or targets, set by the ACT. This shows a drop in preparedness for college-level studies.

The test results were made public in a report on Wednesday. The report shows that 42 percent of ACT-tested graduates in the class of 2022 met none of the subject benchmarks in English, reading, science, and math.

These benchmarks are considered predictions for how students might perform in college classes. In 2021, 38 percent of ACT test takers failed to meet any of the benchmarks.

"Academic preparedness is where we are seeing the decline," said Rose Babington. She is senior director for state partnerships² for the ACT.

ACT scores have been dropping steadily³ in recent years. However, the large drop during this past year is "particularly alarming," said ACT chief executive officer Janet Godwin.

Godwin added, "We see rapidly growing numbers of seniors leaving high school without meeting college-readiness benchmarks in any of the subjects we measure."

The results also offer a look into systemic unfairness in education that existed before the pandemic closed schools.

For example, students who are not offered high-level classes in high school suffered more during the pandemic, Babington said. Those students usually are from rural areas or come from poorer families and are often students of color.

The number of high school students taking the ACT has dropped 30 percent since 2018. That is because high school graduates are increasingly not going to college. Also, some universities no longer require standardized test scores for admission.

Standardized tests such as the ACT have faced growing concerns that they are unfair to minority and low-income students. Students who take costly⁴ test preparation classes or advanced classes in high school often perform better.

Babington defended the test as a measure of college readiness. "Now more than ever, the last few years have shown us the importance of having high-quality data to help inform how we support students," Babington said.

Colleges and universities are increasingly ending long-standing requirements for standardized tests. The University of California system even has a "test-blind" policy. This means that test scores are not considered even if they are supplied.

But many students still take the tests. If their scores are high, they may have an advantage over other students.

Tyrone Jordan is a first-year student at Arizona State University, which does not require standardized test scores. He said he took the ACT and the SAT to get ahead of other students and to help him receive money in the form of scholarships.

Jordan said he wants to study mechanical engineering. He said he thinks the difficult classes at Tempe Preparatory Academy prepared him for college. His standardized test results helped support him and his family financially.

Jordan said, "All the test did for me was give me extra financial money."

Words in This Story

standardized – adj. to bring into conformity⁵ with a standard

benchmark – n. something that serves as a standard by which others may be measured or judged

decline – n. a change to a lower state or level : v. to tend toward an inferior state or weaker condition

alarming – adj. causing people to feel danger or to be worried or frightened

rapidly – adv. marked by a fast rate of motion, activity, succession, or occurrence

senior – n. a student in the year preceding graduation from a school of secondary or higher level

income – n. a gain or recurrent benefit usually measured in money that derives⁶ from capital or labor⁷

advantage – n. superiority of position or condition

scholarship – n. a grant-in-aid to a student (as by a college or foundation)

1 standardized   

adj.标准化的

参考例句：

• We use standardized tests to measure scholastic achievement. 我们用标准化考试来衡量学生的学业成绩。
• The parts of an automobile are standardized. 汽车零件是标准化了的。

2 partnerships   

n.伙伴关系( partnership的名词复数 )；合伙人身份；合作关系

参考例句：

• Partnerships suffer another major disadvantage: decision-making is shared. 合伙企业的另一主要缺点是决定要由大家来作。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• It involved selling off limited partnerships. 它涉及到售出有限的合伙权。 来自辞典例句

3 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

4 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

5 conformity   

n.一致，遵从，顺从

参考例句：

• Was his action in conformity with the law?他的行动是否合法？
• The plan was made in conformity with his views.计划仍按他的意见制定。

6 derives   

v.得到( derive的第三人称单数 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取

参考例句：

• English derives in the main from the common Germanic stock. 英语主要源于日耳曼语系。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He derives his income from freelance work. 他以自由职业获取收入。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。