Oregon Public Broadcasting

Average scores on the college entrance exam called the SAT dipped nationwide last year – and dropped a little more in Oregon. Rob Manning reports.

Oregon tends to score higher than the rest of the country on the SAT, but this year’s scores show that lead tightening.

Oregon remains more than 20 points ahead of the country on the reading test, but last year’s 12-point lead on the math section has slipped to ten points. And a three-point drop in writing scores has trimmed Oregon's advantage on that test, as well.

Brian O’Reilly with the College Board says Oregon’s high reading scores and falling writing scores highlight a strange trend.

Brian O’Reilly: “I won’t be suggesting a reason for that – but I think it is of interest that Oregon SAT takers, at least, appear to be significantly better readers, but only slightly better writers.”

O’Reilly says over the last 15 years, Oregon’s reading and math results have been more consistent than a lot of other states. But Oregon’s writing scores have slipped four points since 2006, when writing was added to the SAT.