Virginia high schoolers' average verbal and math SAT scores declined in the last year, according to a report released this week by the College Board. The decline follows a national trend showing nationwide SAT scores falling to their lowest point since 1999. The average SAT score of the incoming first-year class also decreased.
National verbal scores fell one point from last year's average of 503 to 502, and the average math score declined three points from 518 to 515, according to Valdmir Dovijarov, College Board associate in communications.
Dovijarov said in the Commonwealth, average verbal scores fell one point from last year's average of 512 to 511, while math scores declined two points from 513 to 511.
The decline in scores in Virginia, as well as across the nation, can be attributed to an increased number of students choosing not to take the SAT a second or third time, said Julie Grimes, Virginia Department of Education spokesperson.
"Typically scores do increase with repeated test taking," Grimes said.
According to Dean of Admissions John Blackburn, the average scores for the University's entering first years fell from 1320 to 1306.
"Scores go up and down with each year," Blackburn said. "Next year I suspect scores to be higher, and generally scores stay in the 1300s."
Blackburn added that while test scores are important in admission decisions, they are never the sole determinant.
"Admissions depends a lot on what a student has done in high school, such as if they have taken tough courses and done well in them," Blackburn said. "Well-done individualistic essays, two recommendations, civic-mindedness and individualism are also important. We like to take a holistic view of prospective students."
Although scores declined nationwide, there was a record increase in student participation in the SAT, Dovijarov said.Approximately 1.5 million students around the country took the test, 39 percent of whom were minorities, showing the highest ever increase of minority participation,
According to Grimes, Virginia also showed an increase in students taking the SAT.
"We had more public school students complete the test than in 2006," Grimes said, "And what was more encouraging was the increased number of minorities" that took the test.
According to Grimes, Virginia saw a nine percent increase in test participation, topping the national increase of 5.5 percent. Grimes added that the increased number of students taking the test could also have contributed to declining scores.
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