Friday, August 23, 1996

More Young Texans Take SAT College Entrance Exam

By Associated Press

AUSTIN (AP) - Test scores among Texas high schools seniors taking the Scholastic Aptitude Test fell or remained even this year compared to scores for last year's senior class, the Texas Education Agency says.

A total of 89,329 Texas seniors took the SAT this year, the TEA reported Thursday. That was about 48 percent of the 186,229 students in the 12th grade.

The students' average verbal score was 495, the same as last year. The average math score of 500 was one point below the 501 average scored by the 85,616 students who took the test last year.

The SAT is one of two college entrance exams accepted at nearly all universities and colleges. All Texas universities and colleges consider results from either of the SAT or the American College Testing exam in admissions decisions.

Texas Education Commissioner Mike Moses said even though SAT scores didn't move up this year, he was pleased with the number of students participating.

"It is extremely gratifying to see that the number of Texas students taking honors courses, higher-level math classes, as well as foreign languages, continues to grow," he said. "Our students are preparing for future challenges as never before."

According to The College Board, which administers the SAT:
- 1.1 million students across the country took the test this year.
- Nationally, the average verbal score was 505.
- The national average math score was 508.
- In Texas, about 31 percent of the 55,991 Hispanic seniors, 17,262, took the exam.
- Nearly 39 percent of the state's 24,325 black Texas seniors, 9,432, took the test.