The class of 2023 had the worst ACT performance in more than three decades, according to newly released data from the nonprofit that administers the college admissions test.

Why it matters: The scores are the latest indication of the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on education, with academic performance and test scores declining at all levels. The 2023 cohort was in its first year of high school when the pandemic began.

  • Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 year ago

    This generation probably realizes that college is an overpriced scam and humanity is probably fucked, so the test is irrelevant.

    • stown@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      That doesn't track. Why pay money and schedule a date to do poorly on the ACT? Should the scores not go up if only the people who know they are going to college take the test?

        • stown@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Is the test paid for by the school district and/or part of the mandatory curriculum requirements for graduation?

      • Skybreaker@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        At my high school, everyone was required to take the ACT. It didn't matter if you were planning to go to college or not.

        • stown@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Obviously if you force people to take the test then the averages will go down…

            • stown@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              Before the test was mandatory, people only took the test if they thought they needed for entry to college. Now there are more people who don't want to go to college yet still must take the test. It's logical to assume that the people who would not go to college or feel that the test is a waste of their time will not perform as well as the people who view it as a barrier that they must cross for their desired life outcome. The simplicity of the test doesn't really matter.

  • engityra@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    This class did a big chunk of their highschool through the pandemic didn't they? I imagine they probably are a bit behind because of it.

    • pitninja@lemmy.pit.ninja
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      1 year ago

      Well, I don't know about you, but I haven't been particularly impressed by the results that an already dumb populace has achieved recently in America. So America getting even dumber doesn't particularly bode well…

      We ought to be concerned about the numbers even if there's not much we can do about the kids entering adulthood.