Average ACT Score Declines For Sixth Year In A Row
Christopher Rim
October 13, 2023
The ACT has released the average test scores for the Class of 2023, marking a significant and concerning drop in national averages. According to the ACT nonprofit organization, this year’s graduating class earned an average score of 19.5 out of 36, down 0.3 from last year’s average of 19.8. Last year’s average marked the first time in over 30 years that the average fell below the crucial 20-point threshold. This year’s continued decline makes this average the lowest since 1991.
The ACT is composed of four sections evaluating English, math, reading, and science, with each section scored on a scale of 1 to 36, contributing to the overall composite score. Approximately 1.4 million students from the class of 2023 took the test.. The English section, with the lowest average at 18.6, saw a decline of 0.4 points since 2022. The math section, likewise, saw a 0.3-point decrease from last year’s scores from 19.3 to 19.0. Even the highest-scoring sections—reading and science—saw declines of 0.3 points.
National averages have exhibited a consistent downward trend over the past six years, which was accelerated due to the ongoing impact of lost learning during the pandemic. The class of 2023 has been uniquely impacted by the pandemic, as they were freshmen in high school when Covid lockdowns began.
Continue Reading
Share
