Compared Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores of coached and uncoached students (over 1,100) generally and relative to sex, race, high school attended, when coaching occurred, and specific coaching course taken. Found average coaching effect of 6 points on verbal section of SAT and 18 points on mathematics section. Reviews claims made by several…

America's most widely used college admission examinations systematically underpredict the abilities of high school girls, who make up over 52% of the test-takers. Each year more than three million students who plan to attend college take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying…

This report presents results for Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools (MCPS) high school students on four tests of the College Board in the 1983-84 school year. These tests, ordered by the number of MCPS students taking them, are the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), the Achievement Tests…

While the charge that standardized tests are biased is not new, critics (including feminists) recently have made accusations of gender bias. One argument for the superior performance of males on the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT), the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), and the American…

The effects of recent changes on the Scholastic Assessment Tests (SAT) on mathematics performance are being studied using data from 1993 and later. Early results show a relative gain for women in the verbal area but not in mathematics. Expected trends, including an effect from increased calculator use, are discussed. (SLD)

This issue of "ETS Policy Notes" discusses gender differences in educational achievement. The first article--"The Gender Gap in Education: How Early and How Large?"--discusses the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which first measures achievement at age 9 years. Gender differences at that age are generally…

This study investigated the value of the Advanced Placement English course in New York State secondary schools, the college performances of former Advanced Placement and Non-Advanced Placement English participants, the best predictor of accelerants' performances in the first college English course, and which predictors, when combined, stabilized…

Fifteen data tables are presented, indicating the average scores of college-bound seniors from Massachusetts on several College Board tests: the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Test of Standard Written English, Achievement Tests, and Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Selected data on…

This norms study, initiated to aid in score interpretation, is designed to provide current information on Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) scores of a national sample of high school juniors. Earlier national norms were developed on the basis of tests administered in 1960 and 1966. The…

Sex differences in variability in the national norms of the Differential Aptitude Tests, Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/Scholastic Aptitude Test, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scales, and California Achievement Tests were examined. Compared to females, males were consistently more variable in quantitative reasoning, spatial visualization,…