N.C. State students who have taken the ACT have surpassed the state’s average score in recent years.
According to Thomas Griffin, director of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the average ACT score for students that planned to enroll in 2013 was 28 out of a total 36 points, which was nearly 10 points higher than the state average of 18.7 points.
The classes of 2015 and 2016 also showed a strong performance with scores of 26 points and 27 points.
“Our scores remain strong, which means of course good students are choosing to apply and come to N.C. State,” Griffin said.
However, the mandatory ACT testing requirement may seem pointless to some college students that have taken both college admission tests such as the ACT or SAT.
Eric Ross, a sophomore in chemical engineering, has taken both the ACT and SAT and said students shouldn’t have to take the exam unless they plan to go to college. Ross also called the ACT a “silly exam.”
“After taking [the ACT], I think the SAT is a more difficult test, and I don’t think either should be required for anyone to take it,” Ross said. “I guess take the SAT or ACT for college admission, but that’s about it.”
However, Griffin said the statewide test is a positive thing because it will give high school students an idea where they stand on college readiness.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s the SAT or ACT, but I think it is a good thing to have one or the other so every high school student has a college qualifying test score,” Griffin said. “Whether it shows they are ready or not is a different question but for all of them to at least have that score I think it gives them a chance when they apply to have a complete application, to have a baseline to go on.”
According to Griffin, 67 percent of prospective students submitted ACT scores when they applied to N.C. State in 2012.
The ACT, a college readiness test created by ACT inc., is used to measure how well high schools prepare North Carolina students for college.
However, ACT inc. released state and national average test scores that show a decline in test scores for the 2013 high school graduating class.
Students’ poor performance may be a direct impact from an increase in the number of test takers in the state.
As of 2012, high school juniors in North Carolina are required to take the exam, making North Carolina one of nine states to have a 100 percent participation rate among students.
In the past, North Carolina’s high school students have led the nation in ACT scores but only when 20 percent of students took the exam.
Even though North Carolina’s scores dropped, the Department of Public Instruction said this has been a trend in other states that have 100 percent participation among their students.
According to a press release from the Department, the state of Kentucky had similar results during its first year (2007-08) of implementing a statewide ACT testing requirement. However, Kentucky students steadily increased their average ACT scores after the first year.
In the same press release, North Caroline State Superintendent June Atkinson said she was not surprised by the decline in average scores.
“When we began this process, we knew our first scores would be lower, but it is important to get a true picture of where we are in order to improve,” Atkinson said.
According to ACT inc., the number of ACT test-taking graduates has increased by 617.6 percent in North Carolina between 2009 and now.
Schools are also held more accountable in preparing students for college-level work because the ACT also tests students’ abilities in science, a subject not covered by the SAT.
“The ACT was selected as the state’s new college readiness measure for high schools because it measures science as well as mathematics, reading and English,” a North Carolina Department of Public Instruction press release said.
