Issue date: 9/22/06 Section: News

Students, counselors and test-prep teachers attributed the lower scores to the longer format of the test.

SAT scores this year showed the biggest annual drop in 31 years. The first national results from the revamped SATs showed the average combined scores on the mathematics and critical reading sections for the high school graduating class of 2006 have declined by seven points from the previous year. The scores were reported by the College Board, the nonprofit group that owns the SAT.

Universities and colleges have noticed a drop in scores of both applicants and admitted students. At LaSalle University, in Philadelphia, SAT scores fell 15 points for applicants and about 10 points for admitted students, even though officials had not altered any of their admissions strategies, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The cause for the drop is disputed.

The College Board says fewer students are taking the tests a second time. Others, but not the College Board, says the drop is due to the test being longer this year; a writing section became mandatory this year.

Charles Spencer, director of admissions, stated that Cabrini's admission office has taken into consideration the new SAT format during their admissions process.

Spencer said, "Uniform to many colleges and universities we review the writing sample and accept that as a supporting credential in the admissions process."

Spencer stated that applicant and admitted scores at Cabrini were about the same at an average of 985.

The College Board said the average score on the test's critical reading section was down five points and the average math section score was down two points, for a joint score of 1021, the lowest since 2002. The reading decline was the largest since a nine-point drop in 1975 on what was then known as the verbal section, according to the Washington Post.

Many students, counselors and test-prep teachers attributed the lower scores to the longer format of the test, which takes three hours and 45 minutes. The SAT can last more than four hours with breaks. The new format of the SAT includes a writing section, which includes an essay question, and revisions to the mathematics and reading sections

Spencer said, "Many high school students in interviews told me that they were too tired when the writing portion of the exam was given."

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