SAT Scores are Down by 5% -- Why?

Most high school students started to receive their SAT scores these days. From the initial reports, it's clear that there has been a 5% drop in the average scores within the last year.

What might be the possible causes? A lot of school administrators, parents and students are asking themselves the same question.

Here are some of my own answers as a private tutor teaching SAT math preparation for a number of years and who have recently published a book on SAT Math preparation.

1) SAT test has changed in 2005. Now it includes a new section on writing an English essay and an Algebra 2 test. Some of the students might not be familiar with some of the new SAT math subjects like "functions," for example.

2) In my judgment, it also has become harder to "guesstimate" the answers of SAT questions. It is harder in the new SAT just to guess the unknown answers and get it right.

3) The new test is about 1 hour longer than the old one. Old SAT used to take about 3 hours. Now the average completion time is up to 4 hours. In this day and age of short attention spans, constant IM'ing and videogames, some students do not have the concentration and discipline to sit through a 4-hour test and not make any mistakes.

4) The new test is about $20 more expensive than the old one. This might be a factor in the number of students re-taking the test. In the past, students used to take 3 or 4 SAT tests. Now the number is down to 1 or 2. That might also be limiting a student's chances of improving his/her score.

Adequate preparation is still the key. Make sure to find a tutor or self-preparation method/guide that would accomplish two things:

1) Pinpoint your area(s) of greatest weakness.

2) A step-by-step customized method to strengthen those weak points.

I'd be happy to answer any of your SAT-related questions at privatetutor@gmail.com