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College prep
test scores stable
for 4th year

Even with more students
taking the standardized test, the
state's scores remain ahead
of the national average

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By Crystal Kua
Star-Bulletin

As scores have stabilized nationwide on a college entrance examination during the past decade, so have results for Hawaii's college-bound high school graduates, according to a report released today.

"We're paralleling the national numbers very nicely," said Michael Heim, director of the state Department of Education's planning and evaluation group, which oversees testing.

Results released today by the American College Testing program show Hawaii's average composite score at 21.6 out of a maximum of 36. That continues to be above the national average of 21, the same scores for the fourth straight year for both Hawaii and the nation.

The state's scores on three of the four subject area tests are also ahead of national scores. Hawaii scored 22.6 in math, 21.5 in reading and 21.4 in science reasoning. Nationally, math was 20.7, reading was 21.4 and science reasoning was 21.

English was the only subject in which Hawaii scored below the national average, with a score of 20.3 versus 20.5.

Kelly Hayden, spokesman for the Iowa City, Iowa-based testing organization, said the trend toward stabilizing test scores comes after decades of fluctuating scores in which decreases outnumbered increases.

But times are changing.

"I think it's due to higher levels of college preparation on the whole overall among the various groups of students," Hayden said. "There's more of a focus, the need for higher level courses for college preparation, more of a concerted effort to build that into the curriculum in all of the states."

Heim said, "I think that probably is true for Hawaii as well."

He said that for the past 10 years or more, there has been an increased emphasis in improving student competencies and course preparation.

"What we're looking at is more students completing more challenging courses by the time they graduate," Heim said.

Expectations will only rise as the department moves to implement the Hawaii Content and Performance Standards, linking standards to course requirements.

For example, Hawaii could see students required to take pre-algebra courses prior to entering high school instead of in high school.

"It's my belief that this trend toward increasing achievement and increasing expectations will increase over time," Heim said.

He also said Hawaii's scores are encouraging because more students each year take the test.

For example, in 1996, Hawaii had 1,820 participating in the test, but this year that number is up to 2,826.

Nationally, 924,663 students took the test in 1996, and this year's crop numbered more than 1.06 million.

Heim and Hayden said it is a positive sign that scores continue to stabilize even though more students are taking the test. Traditionally, when more students take a test, scores tend to dip. The fact that scores have not gone down means that students are performing well.

The testing organization cautions that students who take the ACT assessment are self-selected and do not represent the entire student population.

The ACT is one of two major college entrance examinations. Results from the other test, the SAT, are expected to be released later this month.