SAT SCORES HOLD STEADY WHILE ACT SCORES INCREASE IN LATEST RESULTS

Sep 28, 2026

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SAT results for college-bound seniors leveled off for the 1985-86 school year after several years of gains, according to the College Board. Average ACT scores rose to 18.8, the highest level since 1974, with improvements across subject sections. Education Secretary William Bennett linked the testing outcomes to recent education reform efforts, while ACT officials highlighted the effect of “core curriculum” coursework on performance and discussed changes in SAT demographic reporting.

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SAT SCORES HOLD STEADY WHILE ACT SCORES INCREASE IN LATEST RESULTS

SAT results overview

ACT score increases and subject performance

Comparison across years and demographics

Tuesday,September 23,1986 Vo1.14,No。183 # SAT SCORES HOLD STEADY WHILE ACT SCORES INCREASE IN LATEST RESULTS After four years of increases,average scores of college-bound students takingthe Scholastic Aptitude Test(SAT)leveled off for the 1985-86 school year,theCollege Board announced today. The news from the American College Test Program(ACT)today was better,how-ever,as its test scores jumped 0.2 points to 18.8.That marks its highestlevel since 1974,according to an ACT spokeswoman. Education Secretary William Bennett said the scores were yet another indicationof the positive results stemming from the recent education reform movement. "Six months ago,I commented that the next year's SATs might well remain level--that it was unlikely wewould have another surge afterlast year's impressive nine-pointjump,"Bennett said in a state-ment."Clearly,the educationexcellence movement has been hav-ing an effect and we are holdingthe ground we've gained." | SAT Score Averages,
College-bound Seniors,1967-1986* | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | Verbal | | | Mathematlcal | | | | | Male | Female | Total | Male | F
Female | Total | | 1967 | 463 | 468 | 466 | 514 | 467 | 492 | | 1968 | 464 | 466 | 466 | 512 | 470 | 492 | | 1969 | 459 | 466 | 463 | 513 | 470 | 493 | | 1970 | 459 | 461 | 460 | 509 | 465 | 488 | | 1971 | 454 | 457 | 455 | 507 | 466 | 488 | | 1972 | 454 | 452 | 453 | 505 | 461 | 484 | | 1973 | 446 | 443 | 445 | 502 | 460 | 481 | | 1974 | 447 | 442 | 444 | 501 | 459 | 480 | | 1975 | 437 | 431 | 434 | 495 | 449 | 472 | | 1976 | 433 | 430 | 431 | 497 | 446 | 472 | | 1977 | 431 | 427 | 429 | 497 | 445 | 470 | | 1978 | 433 | 425 | 429 | 494 | 444 | 468 | | 1979 | 431 | 423 | 427 | 493 | 443 | 467 | | 1980 | 428 | 420 | 424 | 491 | 443 | 466 | | 1981 | 430 | 418 | 424 | 492 | 443 | 466 | | 1982 | 431 | 421 | 426 | 493 | 443 | 467 | | 1983 | 430 | 420 | 425 | 493 | 445 | 468 | | 1984 | 433 | 420 | 426 | 495 | 449 | 471 | | 1985 | 437 | 425 | 431 | 499 | 452 | 475 | | 1986 | 437 | 426 | 431 | 501 | 451 | 475 | | ·The average for 1967 through 1971 are estimates.Colege-bound
Seniors reports were not prepared in those years.
Source:The College Board | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | "But now we must push ahead inthese reforms to ensure that wepick up steam again,"Bennettadded. Indeed,ACT officials say theirresearch indicates that the re-form movement has had a positiveeffect on the scores,PatriciaFarant,assistant vice presidentfor public affairs with ACT,saidthat the average student from aschool district that had institu-ted a“core curriculum”program--one that features four years ofEnglish and three years of mathe-matics,social studies and naturalscience--had a better score thanthe average student from a dis-trict without such a program。(more) S 6 # SAT SCORES HOLD STEADY WHILE ACT_SCORES INCREASE IN LATEST RESULTS(Cont.) As noted,average ACT scores hit 18.8 for 1985-86 test-takers.The averagescores for"core curriculum"schools hit 20.4,Farant said."We can't say forcertain,but it seems pretty clear that there is a relationship between thecoursework and the test score,"Farant said yesterday. College-bound seniors taking the SAT in 1985-86 scored an average of 431 on theverbal test and 475 on the mathematics component,according to George Hanford,president of the College Board.Although both scores were identical to lastyear's,the average verbal score had jumped five points between 1983-84 and1984-85,while the average mathematics score had increased four points over thesame period. Number Of Takers RisesHanford said the latest SAT

FAQs

How did SAT scores change for 1985-86 compared with prior years?

SAT scores leveled off for the 1985-86 school year after several years of increases, with the average verbal and mathematics scores matching the prior year. The article contrasts this stability with earlier upward trends and a slight verbal drop in 1983.

What were the key changes in ACT scores for 1985-86?

ACT average scores increased to 18.8 in 1985-86, reaching the highest level since 1974. The article also reports that all four subject averages rose, with mathematics, English, social studies, and natural science improving over the prior period.

What factors did officials cite to explain the score results?

Education officials attributed the outcomes to recent education reforms. ACT staff specifically pointed to districts using a “core curriculum” program featuring four years of English and three years of mathematics, social studies, and natural science as showing better average scores.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Kyle