2006 SAT Scores

Representatives of the College Board reported on the scores on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests. They discussed the average 2006 scores for college-bound seniors, the scores by race and ethnicity or gender, and the writing test. A Florida school superintendent and three high school seniors also spoke. All the participants responded to questions from the audience of reporters and from the 40 reporters on telephone lines.

According to the College Board, the average combined reading and math SAT score among students who graduated last spring is down to 1021. This drop of seven points was the sharpest drop in more than three decades. The average reading score fell five points to 503 and math fell two points to 518. The high school class of 2006 was the first to take a new version of the SAT, which now requires students to write an essay. That added to the time required for the test. The College Board does not believe fatigue was the reason for the lower scores, but that one factor was that close