VOA教育报道2023--American Scores on College Admissions Test Drop to 30-year Low

American Scores on College Admissions² Test Drop to 30-year Low

American high school students' scores on the ACT college admissions test have dropped to their lowest in more than 30 years.

The average score of students who completed high school in 2023 was 19.5 out of a possible 36. Last year, students averaged 19.8.

The average score dropped for the sixth straight year.

Scores were already falling before the COVID-19 pandemic. But the scores fell faster during and after the pandemic period.

The students who took the test in 2023 were in their first year of high school when COVID-19 reached the United States.

Janet Godwin leads ACT, the nonprofit organization that administers³ the test. She said that high schools are "not doing enough to ensure that graduates are truly ready for postsecondary success in college and career."

The average scores in reading, math and science were all below the level that ACT says demonstrates⁴ a good chance of succeeding in first-year college courses. The average score in English was just above the "benchmark" level, but it was still lower than in 2022.

The falling scores come at the same time many colleges and universities established admissions policies that do not require the test. However, students are welcome to provide the scores if they wish.

Some universities do not look at test scores even if students send them in. College admission¹ tests have been criticized⁵ for favoring students who come from wealthier families and schools.

Godwin, however, said the test scores from her organization still help universities place students in the proper classes.

"Even in a test-optional environment, these kinds of objective⁶ test scores about academic readiness are incredibly important," she said.

Some current high school students wonder why the tests are necessary. Denise Cabrera is a 17-year-old in Hawaii. She said all of her classmates had to take the test in 11th grade.

Cabrera said she believed taking it and getting a good score would help her get into a good college. But she thinks colleges and universities can learn more about a student by looking at "different qualities ... outside of just a one-time test score."

Godwin said about 1.4 million high school students took the test this year. That was an increase over 2022 but still below the numbers recorded before the pandemic.

Only 21 percent of students reached the levels the ACT organization believes are necessary to predict good success in college.

Words in This Story

postsecondary –adj. school or work that comes after high school

bechmark –n. a score or result that is of a certain (often high) standard

academic –adj. having to do with school or education

incredibly –adv. used to amplify⁷ the importance of the word coming next, hard to believe

 

grade –n. the year a person is in school

1 admission   

n.允许进入；承认；入场费，入会费，入场券

参考例句：

• We attached a condition to his admission to our school.我们对准许他入校附加了一个条件。
• By her own admission,she was responsible for the accident.她自己承认，事故应该由她负责。

2 admissions   

n.准许进入( admission的名词复数 )；入场费；入场券；承认

参考例句：

• a need-blind admissions policy 不考虑经济能力的录取政策
• He's the Dean of Admissions for the University of Michigan. 他是Michigan大学的新生注册主任。 来自辞典例句

3 administers   

管理( administer的第三人称单数 )； 治理（国家）； 给予； 执行

参考例句：

• Physical exercise administers to the circulation of the blood. 体育锻炼有助于血液循环。
• Health administers to peace of mind. 健康有助于身心的安宁。

4 demonstrates   

举行示威游行（或集会）( demonstrate的第三人称单数 )； 示范。展示； 显示； 论证

参考例句：

• I hope this message demonstrates my feelings to the students. 我希望这个祝词能表达出我对学生们的感情。
• I hope this demonstrates to you how I feel. 我希望这能向你表明我的感受。

5 criticized   

vt.批评(criticize的过去式)v.评论，批评( criticize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The decision was criticized by environmental groups. 这个决定受到了环保团体的批评。
• The movie has been criticized for apparently legitimizing violence. 这部电影因明显地美化暴力而受到了指责。

6 objective   

adj.客观的；n.目标，目的

参考例句：

• He tried to take an objective view of the situation.他试图对形势有个客观的看法。
• The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。

7 amplify   

vt.放大，增强；详述，详加解说

参考例句：

• The new manager wants to amplify the company.新经理想要扩大公司。
• Please amplify your remarks by giving us some examples.请举例详述你的话。