December 2004
Comparison of Graduation Exit Examination (GEE 21) with ACT
This comparison study was conducted to examine the relationship between GEE 21 and ACT test
scores. The following results are based on high school students taking both the GEE 21 and the
ACT in 2003.
Tables 1 and 2 indicate the average ACT Composite score for students scoring at each
achievement level on the GEE 21 English language arts and mathematics tests. There is a linear
relationship between GEE 21 and ACT—students at higher achievement levels on GEE 21
performed better on ACT than did students at lower achievement levels. This pattern is observed
for both English and mathematics tests.
Table 1
Table 2
English Test
Mathematics Test
GEE
Achievement
Level
Advanced
Mastery
Basic
App. Basic
Unsatisfactory
Number
of
Students
311
4813
12625
4079
1472
ACT
Average
Score
29
25
19
15
12
GEE
Achievement
Level
Advanced
Mastery
Basic
App. Basic
Unsatisfactory
Number
of
Students
1856
5077
9421
3150
3848
ACT
Average
Score
27
22
18
16
15
December 2004
Figure 1 indicates the average ACT score on English, Math, and Composite for students who
scored Basic or above on two GEE 21 subjects (English and mathematics), three subjects (English
and mathematics and science or social studies), and four subjects. The average ACT scores are
similar across different groups of students. In general, students who scored at Basic or above on
GEE 21 scored approximately 22 on ACT.
Figure 1
35
ACT Score
30
25
22 21 21
22 21 22
23
21 22
20
15
English
10
Math
Composite
5
0
2 subjects
3 subjects
4 subjects
Scored Basic or Above on GEE 21 Components
Figure 2 indicates the average ACT score on English, Mathematics, and Composite for students
who scored Basic on two GEE 21 subjects (English and mathematics), three subjects (English and
mathematics and science or social studies), and four subjects. The average ACT scores are similar
across different groups of students. In general, students who scored at Basic on GEE 21 scored
approximately 19 on ACT.
Figure 2
35
ACT Score
30
25
20
19 18 19
19 18 19
20
18 19
15
English
10
Math
Composite
5
0
2 subjects
3 subjects
4 subjects
Scored Basic on GEE 21 Components