Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 15, 1993                   TAG: 9309150339
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Medium

COLLEGE-TEST SCORES UP

It was the first time in five years that scores on the American College Test increased. Scholastic Assessment Test results, released last month, also were somewhat higher this year.

"The college readiness of American students . . . has been improving steadily in recent years, but we think too slowly," said Richard L. Ferguson, president of ACT, which is based in Iowa City, Iowa.

ACT is scored on a scale of 1 to 36.

Students are tested in English, mathematics, reading and natural science. The average score was 20.3 in English, up from 20.2 last year; 20.1 in math, up from 20.0; 21.2 in reading, up from 21.1; and 20.8 in science, up from 20.7.

Last month, the College Board reported the second straight year of increases on its Scholastic Assessment Tests, the nation's leading college admission exam. The average score of 902 was up from 899 last year. A perfect score is 1,600.

Both ACT and SAT noted that the pool of students taking their tests had increased, and each program said the number of minority students participating rose.

\ AMERICAN COLLEGE TEST\ Average scores since 1988\ \ 1988 20.8\ 1989 20.6\ 1990 20.6\ 1991 20.6\ 1992 20.6\ 1993 20.7