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

DATE: THURSDAY, August 25, 1994                   TAG: 9408250122
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                 LENGTH: Medium

MALE, FEMALE SCORES ON SA< GROWING CLOSER

Citing significant strides in math and science by women of all ethnic backgrounds, the College Board says that the male-female gap on Scholastic Assessment Test scores continued to narrow among high school students last year.

Releasing the annual report on SAT scores, Donald A. Stewart, the president of the College Board, which oversees the tests, said:

``Since 1987, women have narrowed the male-female gaps in SAT scores by six points for math and verbal, even though they are the majority of SAT takers and come from families with less income and education than men - factors which tend to depress scores.''

For the past eight years, black women have improved their scores more than any other group on the SAT, the most frequently used standardized college admission test.

In 1987, the average verbal score for black women was 349, and in 1994, it was 354. In 1987, the average math score for black women was 367, and in 1994, it was 381. For all groups in 1994, the verbal score was 423, and math was 479.

White males from higher income groups have historically done best on the SAT, prompting complaints that the test has gender and cultural biases. But the board insists it has made strides to eliminate these problems.

In March, the College Board changed the SAT for the first time in 20 years to add more questions to test reading comprehension and analytical skill in math. But most students took the old test this year; only 3.2 percent took the new test.

At a press briefing to explain the results Tuesday, Stewart attributed the narrowing gap between men and women, and especially the increase in scores by black women, to better preparation rather than changes in the test itself.

``This narrowing of the gap has been a general trend for some time now,'' said Janice Gams, associate director for public affairs at the College Board.

Not unexpectedly, the board reported that students enrolled in rigorous, yearlong courses such as pre-calculus and physics did better on the test than those enrolled in semester-long, standard courses.

Average scores for city and rural students were below the national average because, the board said, these regions tended to have fewer students enrolled in yearlong courses than suburban areas.

by CNB