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" SAT Reading and Math Scores Show Decline"
By KAREN W. ARENSON NY Times August 31, 2006
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Read "SAT Reading and Math Scores Show Decline" at:
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/20060831thursday.html
Answer the following questions:
a. On what group are the SAT statistics based?
b. What criticism do guidance counselors offer about the exam?
c. How do College Board officials respond to that criticism?
d. By what percentage has the number of students taking the exam one time changed?
e. By what percentage has the number of students taking the exam three times changed?
f. What comprises the writing test?
g. For what percentage of the score does the essay count?
h. How do the results of girls and boys compare?
i. How do these results compare with the difference between girls and boys on the math exam?
j. What interpretation does Gaston Caperton offer concerning the decline?
k. Why do some officials consider the decline significant?
l. How do the SAT results compare with those of the ACT?
m. By what percentages have scores declined in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey?
n. Who is Joel I. Klein and what is his response to the news?
o. By what percentage has the number of students taking the exam declined?
p. How might the decline in scores affect low-income students and the schools who aim to recruit them?
q. How do the text results of students from low-income families and high-income families compare?
r. Why might there have been an increase in the number of students taking the ACT?
CHOOSE ONE of the following extension activities and complete:
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Investigate a college entrance exam such as the SAT, ACT, AP or CLEP. What is its purpose? Who can take it; when and why? What does it measure? What are its rating systems? What might you do to prepare for it? What criticisms might you or others have of the exam? What are the potential benefits? How are the scores used and by whom? Prepare a poster based on your findings. |
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What costs are associated with taking college entrance exams? Investigate the costs associated with preparing for and taking the SAT, ACT, AP and/or CLEP exams. What might be the cost of preparatory books, classes, tutors or practice exams? What might be the costs if you took it once, twice or three times? Prepare a series of charts and graphs based on your findings. Using that data, respond to the following questions: "How might the economic status of a family factor into a student's success with the exams? How might that factor into a student's ability to attend a competitive college? Prepare a one page final analysis paper based on your findings. |
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