http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/educ...story.html

But math's holding steady. Thoughts?

wat?! i dont b leve it.

(09-24-2012 02:58 PM)texd Wrote:  wat?! i dont b leve it.

YRU such a h8r?

(09-24-2012 02:59 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(09-24-2012 02:58 PM)texd Wrote:  wat?! i dont b leve it.

YRU such a h8r?

Maybe that's it - with numbers replacing letters in written speech, they forget what some letters sound like...

To get back to the specific question...

While many are suggesting more are taking the test, at least at the lower achiever level, I'm wondering if the opposite is happening - fewer of the high achievers are taking it? Isn't there a move afoot at many top-flight schools to more emphasize the ACT as an option or to not even require test scores? I ask that question partially in ignorance, with it being 25 or so years since I had to apply to college. But I seem to recall stories along those lines. Those with more recent experience might be able to comment.

(09-26-2012 08:44 AM)gsloth Wrote:  To get back to the specific question...

While many are suggesting more are taking the test, at least at the lower achiever level, I'm wondering if the opposite is happening - fewer of the high achievers are taking it? Isn't there a move afoot at many top-flight schools to more emphasize the ACT as an option or to not even require test scores? I ask that question partially in ignorance, with it being 25 or so years since I had to apply to college. But I seem to recall stories along those lines. Those with more recent experience might be able to comment.

I recall hearing about this, although I cannot remember if they mentioned anything about the results and potential movement. The ACT is said to be more school based (I didn't take it), so that might be a better indicator for top colleges.

The SAT always felt like the lowest rung of qualification. If you can pass x, then you are capable of attending college. Then again, a 500 on the SAT math is very very poor.

(09-26-2012 08:44 AM)gsloth Wrote:  To get back to the specific question...

While many are suggesting more are taking the test, at least at the lower achiever level, I'm wondering if the opposite is happening - fewer of the high achievers are taking it? Isn't there a move afoot at many top-flight schools to more emphasize the ACT as an option or to not even require test scores? I ask that question partially in ignorance, with it being 25 or so years since I had to apply to college. But I seem to recall stories along those lines. Those with more recent experience might be able to comment.

What are the trends in ACT scores?

http://www.erikthered.com/tutor/historic...s-plot.pdf

This does suggest a slight upward trend in the "new" ACT scores but I have no idea what that means.

(09-26-2012 08:44 AM)gsloth Wrote:  To get back to the specific question...

While many are suggesting more are taking the test, at least at the lower achiever level, I'm wondering if the opposite is happening - fewer of the high achievers are taking it? Isn't there a move afoot at many top-flight schools to more emphasize the ACT as an option or to not even require test scores? I ask that question partially in ignorance, with it being 25 or so years since I had to apply to college. But I seem to recall stories along those lines. Those with more recent experience might be able to comment.

I'd say the number of schools not requiring test scores is still very small--too small to have an effect, because those same high-achievers are still taking the SAT for other schools.

I don't think more schools are emphasizing the ACT over the SAT. I do think more kids are taking the ACT than before, but I'd bet the high-achievers are taking both, rather than moving from SAT to ACT.

(09-26-2012 08:44 AM)gsloth Wrote:  To get back to the specific question...

While many are suggesting more are taking the test, at least at the lower achiever level, I'm wondering if the opposite is happening - fewer of the high achievers are taking it? Isn't there a move afoot at many top-flight schools to more emphasize the ACT as an option or to not even require test scores? I ask that question partially in ignorance, with it being 25 or so years since I had to apply to college. But I seem to recall stories along those lines. Those with more recent experience might be able to comment.

I think you're confusing the move away from standardized scores with what was really announced:

More top-flight BCS schools are turning away from using, or even looking at, 40-yard dash times in considering football aptitude for scholarships. They are also refusing to consider bench press results.