For immediate release
Sept. 26, 2013
NC’s SAT Score Increases While Nation’s Remains the Same;
AP Program Also Experiences Increases in Participation and Achievement
North Carolina seniors in 2013 had an average combined SAT score of 1,479, which
is a 10-point increase from the previous year, according to The College Board’s
annual SAT report released this morning. The national average combined score
remained the same at 1,498.
State Superintendent June Atkinson said she was pleased that high school seniors
increased their average performance on the SAT. “I’m particularly pleased to see
that students increased their average Critical Reading score. I fully expect to see our
seniors’ scores continue to improve as students benefit from the Common Core State
Standards,” Atkinson said.
North Carolina seniors posted an average Critical Reading score of 495, which is an
increase of four points from 2012. Their average Mathematics score of 506
remained the same as last year. The average Writing score for North Carolina’s
senior class of 2013 was 478, which represents an increase of six points.
Nationally, the average Critical Reading score was 496, the average Mathematics
score was 514 and the average Writing score was 488.
The number of seniors (58,100) taking the SAT in 2013 dropped 8.2 percent from
the previous year. North Carolina has been considered an “SAT state” with the vast
majority of college-bound students favoring this admissions test. However, in 2012,
all high school juniors took the ACT for the first time as part of the state’s new
READY accountability model. This means that students can use their ACT results for
college admission and not have to pay to take a college entrance exam.
In addition to SAT college admissions test results, the College Board also released
summary results for the state’s Advanced Placement (AP) program. North Carolina
public school students once again shined, showing a 5.8 percent increase in the
number of test takers, a 6.2 percent increase in the number of exams taken and a 6.7
percent increase in the number of scores in the 3-5 range. AP exams are scored on a
five-point scale with scores of 3, 4 or 5 being considered high enough to qualify for
college credit or placement at most colleges and universities.
A total of 50,374 test takers took 93,911 exams with most students taking more
than one AP course and exam. The three most popular AP exams taken were English
Language and Composition, U.S. History and Psychology.
Just as noteworthy, all ethnic groups showed increases in the number of text takers,
the number of exams taken and the number of grades in the 3-5 category. Among
the specified categories, Hispanic Overall students showed the greatest percentage
increases in all categories.
Total
Female
Male
American Indian
Asian
Black
Hispanic Overall
White
Other
No Response
# Test Takers
50,374
+5.8%
28,531
+6.2%
21,843
+5.4%
410
+16.8%
3,729
+10.3%
5,503
+7.6%
3,182
+17.3%
35,324
6.1%
1,772
+27.0%
454
-66.7%
# Exams
93,911
+6.2%
52,596
+6.3%
41,315
+6.0%
667
+11.5%
8,741
+10.2%
8,916
+7.2%
5,554
+17.3%
65,931
+6.4%
3,424
+30.5%
678
-70.5%
# Grades 3-5
55,593
+6.7%
25,519
+7.0%
26,074
+6.4%
277
+18.9%
6,109
+8.6%
2,780
+4.7%
2,661
+16.3%
41,433
+7.3%
2,017
+37.7%
316
-74.6%
State Superintendent June Atkinson also was glad to see the positive strides made
by minority students in the AP program. “This program provides a wonderful way
for students to get a jump start on college credits. These numbers show that
students of all backgrounds can perform well in the AP program if they are given the
opportunity and encouragement to participate.”