For the first time, a majority of Georgia's 2012 high school graduates took the ACT, which some see as an easier alternative to the longer, more expensive SAT.
Fifty-two percent of the state's graduates took the ACT in 2012, either instead of or in addition to the SAT. That's up from 47 percent who took the ACT in 2011 and 44 percent in 2010. The SAT remains the dominant test for college-bound seniors in Georgia and throughout the eastern U.S.
Georgia's average score on the ACT edged up to 20.7 from 20.6 the year before, a point of pride for education officials who noted that having more students take a test often leads to a lower average score.
Paul Brannon, principal at Northview High School in Johns Creek, which has seen students get high scores on the ACT, said students are performing better on the ACT because they are taking more rigorous Advanced Placement classes.
The state's average score trailed the nation's average score of 21.1. There was only one of four subject areas, English, where a majority of the Georgia test-takers met the ACT's own college-readiness benchmarks.
ACT officials have devised benchmarks for English, reading, math and science, the topics on the two hour, 55-minute test. The benchmarks are designed to show which test-takers have a 50 percent chance of earning a 'B' in a particular subject when they go on to college and which students have a 75 percent chance of earning a 'C' in that subject.
In English, 64 percent of Georgia graduates met the ACT's college-readiness benchmark. In reading, 50 percent met the benchmark; 40 percent hit the benchmark in math and 27 percent in science.
Across the country, 67 percent of ACT test-takers met the benchmark in English, with 52 percent hitting the mark in reading, 46 percent doing so in math and 31 percent in science.
Georgia public schools have begun adhering to a new set of academic standards that call for introducing academic topics at earlier grade levels and more rigorous review. State education officials said they expect that those new "common core" standards, also used in 46 other states, will improve the performance of all students,.
"Common core is more analytical," Georgia Department of Education spokesman Matt Cardoza said. "Kids have to think more. The depth is there. Kids get a real understanding of a subject rather than touching on it and moving on."
However, the new standards might not improve ACT scores for another four or five years, state education officials said.
As Georgia moves to those new standards, state education officials are also placing more emphasis on getting students ready for post-high school careers and college.
The SAT remains the dominant test for college-bound students in Georgia, with 80 percent of graduates taking that test in 2011. More and more, however, students have turned to the ACT, often with hopes of performing better than they did on the SAT.
Olu Sanya, co-founder of Success Prep, which offers ACT and SAT prep courses, said the ACT is not an easier test than the SAT. It's simply a different one, he said.
Kevin Colton and Austin Webster, 17-year old seniors at Northview High School in Johns Creek, said it was easier to remain focused during that test, which is 50 minutes shorter than the SAT.
"I would say I enjoyed the ACT more," said Webster, who is applying to Stanford and Vanderbilt. "The reading is more interesting and engaging. You feel like you understand better what the test is asking."
ACT OR SAT?
Description: ACT measures what a student has learned in particular subject areas. SAT is more of an aptitude test that measures a student's verbal and reasoning skills.
Sections: ACT has five components - English, math, reading, science and an optional writing test. SAT has three components - critical reading, math and writing.
Cost: ACT costs $35 without the optional writing test and $50.50 with the writing test. SAT costs $50.
Length: ACT takes two hours and 55 minutes without the writing test and three hours and 25 minutes with the writing test. SAT takes three hours and 45 minutes.
Top score: A 36 is the top score on the ACT. A 2400 is the top score on the SAT, though because many colleges and universities do not require that students submit their writing score, 1600 is commonly held to be the top score.
Guessing: ACT does not penalize for guessing. SAT does penalize wrong answers.
Which schools want which test? In general, schools east of the Mississippi River request the SAT, and schools west of the river often request the ACT. However, many colleges and universities throughout the country accept scores from either test.
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