Isle students above
average on ACT
Of the four test areas, Hawaii
By Debra Barayuga
students are below the national
average only in English
Star-BulletinHawaii's college-bound students in 1997-98 scored the same as the previous year on the ACT but continue to perform above the national average in three of four areas tested, according to data released today by the American College Testing program.
Hawaii's composite score was 21.6 out of a possible 36, compared with the national average of 21.0, which also remained the same as last year.
For the last nine years, the ACT national average has remained constant or increased slightly. Most subgroups tested this year made modest gains on one or more of the tests in English, math, reading and science reasoning, the ACT reported.
Hawaii outscored national averages in math, reading and science reasoning. But students scored 20.2 in English, compared with the national average of 20.4.
"It's a modest improvement. We're not talking spectacular gains, but with a concerted effort, there can be improvement," said Selvin Chin-Chance, specialist in the Department of Education's test development section.
Schools are encouraging students to take the ACT -- a college entrance examination taken by nearly 60 percent of prospective college freshman -- because more colleges are accepting the ACT in lieu of or in addition to SAT scores, Chin-Chance said.
The number of Hawaii students taking the ACT has increased steadily in the past five years, from 2,134 last year to 2,358 this year.
Many students also prefer the ACT because it's more content-oriented, compared with the SAT, which tests only verbal and math skills.
"Generally, when you have an
increase in the number of students taking the test, scores will remain the same or decline because you're calling on a wider base of students," Chin-Chance said.
Credit should be given to schools and the students for scoring higher than the national average in math, reading and science reasoning, he said.
"We are maintaining a level of performance despite the fact that we are testing more students and a wider variety of students," Chin-Chance said.
Hawaii's students have done exceptionally well in math, scoring above the national average in the last five years. This year, Hawaii students scored 22.7 in math, compared with the national average of 20.8.
In reading, Hawaii scored 21.6, compared with the national average of 21.4. In science, Hawaii students scored 21.5, compared with the national average of 21.1.
The Department of Education's test section will go over the test results with new schools superintendent Paul LeMahieu when he officially takes over.
ACT President Richard L. Ferguson attributed the trend in national average scores to an increasing number of students taking more than the required core courses in high school.
Students who take advanced courses tend to perform better in all four subtests and have an advantage over students who do less than the required core classes, Chin-Chance said.
For example, in English, Hawaii students who took advanced placement classes scored 20.9 compared with 18.7 by those with less than the core requirements.
In Hawaii, the number of students taking the ACT who went beyond the core courses jumped from 1,443 in 1996-97 to 1,615 in 1997-98. They scored at least two points higher in all tests than those who took less than the core classes.
In comparison, the number of students taking less than the core only increased by five, from 598 in 1996-97 to 603 in 1997-98.
"We have been successful in encouraging students in taking more than the core so we're able to maintain or improve the average," Chin-Chance said.
The scores present some affirmation that students who take core courses in the public schools are doing well, he said. "Because if not, we've got serious problems."
