The average composite score on the ACT, a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States, has reached its lowest point in more than three decades. The average score for the graduating class of 2023 was 20.
3 out of 36, a drop from the previous year's average of 20.
6, according to the nonprofit ACT. This marks the lowest average score since 1991. The ACT test is designed to measure high school students' general educational development and their capability to complete college-level work. The test covers four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science reasoning.
The decline in scores has raised concerns about the college readiness of high school students. The ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks, which are scores on the ACT subject-area tests that represent the level of achievement required for students to have a high probability of success in corresponding credit-bearing college courses, were also not met by a significant number of students. Only 37% of students met three or more of the ACT College Readiness Benchmarks in English, math, reading, and science. This is down from 39% last year.
In response to the declining scores, some colleges and universities have made ACT and other standardized test scores optional for admission. This move is part of a larger trend towards test-optional policies, which have been adopted by more than 1,000 accredited, bachelor-degree granting institutions in the U.S. The shift towards test-optional policies has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult for many students to take standardized tests.