Isles students’
college test scores
show improvement

This year's average score
increased for the first
time in 4 years

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com

THE STATE'S SCORE on a standardized college entrance test has slightly improved, breaking a four-year flat trend, according to a report released today by the American College Testing program.

Ken Gullette, spokesman for the ACT program based in Iowa, said, "Students in Hawaii are doing very well."

This year, Hawaii's average composite score is 21.7 out of a maximum of 36. The state maintained a score of 21.6 from 1996 to 2000 while the national score has remained steady at 21 for the fifth year in a row. Results of the standardized test also revealed the state continues to score higher than the national average in the four components of the test.

The figure is based on 2001 graduating seniors nationwide who took the assessment as sophomores, juniors or seniors. Some colleges require ACT scores for admission.

Michael Heim, director of the state Department of Education's planning and evaluation program, said, "When we look at the ACT results last year, our dominant impression was that Hawaii's scores were paralleling those of the nation as a whole.

"It appears (now) we're surpassing slightly over the national scores," Heim said.

A total of 2,722 Hawaii students from public and private schools took the standardized test. Nationally, 1.07 million students who took the test. Hawaii students outpaced the national average in math with a score of 22.7 compared to 20.7.

Heim speculated improvements by Hawaii students are based on two factors: students taking more rigorous courses and the effect of Hawaii's Content Performance Standards on student learning.

"Students are aware of the increased competitiveness of both getting into college and life beyond college," Heim said adding the more college preparatory classes students take, the better they fare on the ACT exam.

Moreover, 70 percent of students in Hawaii are taking college prep courses compared to 66 percent of students nationally, Gullette said. "More students are being more prepared for college."

Results for the Scholastic Assessment Test are expected to be released at the end of the month.

Hawaii scores well on ACT Results of Hawaii's and the nation's scores of four curriculum-based achievement tests of the American College Testing program taken this year. HAWAII NATION English 20.6 20.5 Math 22.7 20.7 Reading 21.5 21.3 Science Reasoning 21.5 21.0 Composite 21.7 21.0