Decline in ACT Scores
A significant number of students are failing to meet college-readiness benchmarks, according to recent data from the ACT. Scores have fallen for the sixth consecutive year, reflecting a worrying trend in academic preparedness. The ACT’s benchmarks are designed to predict student success in college courses, suggesting that meeting these standards correlates with a 50% chance of earning a B and a 75% chance of earning a C in college. However, in 2023, 43% of students failed to meet any benchmarks, and only 21% met all four (English, math, reading, and science), down from 22% the previous year.
Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic
The decline in college readiness among the class of 2023 can be attributed in part to the Covid-19 pandemic. These students were freshmen when the pandemic began, and the shift to remote learning and the disruptions in traditional schooling have had a lasting impact. A report from the Center for School and Student Progress indicates that the average student now requires an additional 4.1 months of schooling to catch up in reading and 4.5 months in math to reach pre-Covid levels. The cumulative nature of K-12 education means that gaps created during the pandemic have only widened over time.
The Problem with Grade Inflation
While ACT scores indicate a lack of preparedness, many colleges will never see these results due to the increasing reliance on GPAs and holistic admissions criteria. For fall 2023 admissions, 80% of U.S. colleges did not require ACT or SAT scores. This shift has led to a situation where high school grades may not accurately reflect students’ mastery of course content. In Los Angeles, for example, 73% of eleventh graders received passing grades in math, but only 19% met grade-level standards. This discrepancy between grades and actual competency raises concerns about students’ readiness for college-level work.
Consequences of Test-Optional Policies
The move away from standardized testing in college admissions may be setting students up for failure. Without accurate assessments of academic ability, students may be placed in programs for which they are not prepared, leading to difficulties in gaining traction in college courses. This situation is similar to the mismatches generated by race-conscious admissions, where students are evaluated based on criteria that may not reflect their academic readiness.
Need for Standardized Testing
To address this issue, colleges must ensure that students are prepared for the academic challenges they will face. Standardized tests provide a way to fairly assess applicants from schools with varying levels of grade inflation. The continuation of test-optional policies could harm both students and the institutions that admit them, as it may lead to a misalignment between student preparedness and program requirements.
Conclusion
The data on declining ACT scores and increasing GPAs highlight the need for a reevaluation of college admissions policies. Ensuring that students are genuinely prepared for college-level work is crucial for their success and the integrity of higher education institutions. As colleges navigate these challenges, standardized testing should play a critical role in assessing academic readiness and placing students in programs where they can thrive.
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