The number of SAT test takers this year dipped to about 1.47 million, whereas the number of ACT takers, about 1.2 million, was slightly higher.
Parker called the performance of female students on the new writing section "good news," given that the gender disparity, along with long-running racial score gaps, has been one of the major criticisms of the SAT. She said the addition of the essay, along with an expanded reading comprehension section, helped young women, as the math section historically has favored their male counterparts.
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New criteria
High school graduates of 2006 were the first to take the revised version of the SAT, which now includes a writing section. Scores fell nationwide for both math and critical reading.
Nation
*--* Critical Reading* Math Writing** 2005 2006 2005 2006 2006 All 508 503 520 518 497 Male 513 505 538 536 491 Female 505 502 504 502 502
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California
*--* Critical reading* Math Writing** 2005 2006 2005 2006 2006 All 504 501 522 518 501 Male 510 505 543 541 497 Female 499 497 504 500 504
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*Formerly known as Verbal** New this year
Source: College Board
