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Digest of Education Statistics
1996 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest

Table 127.Distribution of Scholastic Assessment Test\1\ scores, by sex of student: 1975-76 to 1994-95

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          |          |                     Percent of students with specified scores
          |  Number  |------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Year   |    of    |  200  | 250  | 300  | 350  | 400  | 450  | 500  | 550  | 600  | 650  | 700  | 750
          |   test   |  or   |  or  |  or  |  or  |  or  |  or  |  or  |  or  |  or  |  or  |  or  |  or
          |  takers  |higher |higher|higher|higher|higher|higher|higher|higher|higher|higher|higher|higher
----------|----------|-------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------
    1     |    2     |   3   |  4   |  5   |  6   |  7   |  8   |  9   |  10  |  11  |  12  |  13  |  14
----------|----------|-------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------
          |                                           Verbal
  Total   |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1975-76 ..|  999,809 |100.00 |96.26 |89.26 |77.47 |60.27 |43.01 |28.11 |15.58 | 8.20 | 3.55 | 1.23 | 0.25
1980-81 ..|  994,046 |100.00 |95.46 |87.32 |75.34 |58.44 |40.64 |25.76 |13.87 | 7.00 | 3.01 | 1.03 | 0.21
1985-86 ..|1,000,748 |100.00 |95.81 |88.92 |77.55 |61.77 |43.17 |28.03 |15.75 | 7.87 | 3.25 | 0.99 | 0.14
1986-87 ..|1,080,426 |100.00 |96.08 |88.57 |76.62 |60.18 |43.02 |27.85 |15.44 | 8.14 | 3.42 | 1.07 | 0.13
1987-88 ..|1,134,364 |100.00 |95.81 |88.62 |76.44 |60.53 |42.38 |26.91 |14.94 | 7.32 | 3.22 | 0.92 | 0.09
1988-89 ..|1,088,223 |100.00 |95.72 |88.21 |75.39 |59.55 |42.17 |26.77 |14.85 | 7.76 | 3.16 | 0.87 | 0.10
1989-90 ..|1,025,523 |100.00 |95.20 |87.44 |74.97 |58.70 |40.67 |25.11 |14.41 | 7.43 | 3.13 | 1.00 | 0.12
1990-91 ..|1,032,685 |100.00 |94.89 |86.96 |74.38 |57.58 |40.38 |25.22 |14.08 | 7.25 | 3.15 | 1.03 | 0.13
1991-92 ..|1,034,131 |100.00 |94.70 |86.95 |74.29 |58.68 |40.96 |25.42 |14.02 | 7.28 | 3.18 | 0.98 | 0.13
1992-93 ..|1,044,465 |100.00 |94.85 |87.20 |74.71 |58.70 |40.85 |25.77 |14.87 | 7.77 | 3.37 | 1.00 | 0.12
1993-94...|1,050,386 |100.00 |94.76 |86.97 |74.58 |57.72 |40.26 |25.95 |14.76 | 7.58 | 3.32 | 1.11 | 0.14
1994-95...|1,067,993 |100.00 |95.24 |87.96 |75.60 |59.81 |41.83 |26.52 |15.98 | 8.25 | 3.65 | 1.20 | 0.13
          |          |       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   Male   |          |       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
1975-76 ..|  494,626 |100.00 |96.39 |89.54 |77.90 |60.90 |43.65 |28.69 |16.04 | 8.49 | 3.69 | 1.29 | 0.26
1980-81 ..|  478,448 |100.00 |95.97 |88.50 |77.16 |60.73 |42.89 |27.53 |15.03 | 7.67 | 3.30 | 1.13 | 0.23
1985-86 ..|  481,477 |100.00 |96.19 |89.87 |79.10 |63.74 |45.17 |29.77 |17.02 | 8.71 | 3.68 | 1.11 | 0.15
1986-87 ..|  520,326 |100.00 |96.23 |89.12 |77.72 |61.79 |44.91 |29.71 |16.93 | 9.22 | 4.02 | 1.26 | 0.15
1987-88 ..|  544,065 |100.00 |96.14 |89.54 |78.21 |62.92 |45.04 |29.25 |16.70 | 8.44 | 3.82 | 1.13 | 0.11
1988-89 ..|  521,229 |100.00 |96.00 |89.06 |77.04 |61.86 |44.81 |29.15 |16.63 | 8.93 | 3.75 | 1.07 | 0.12
1989-90 ..|  490,420 |100.00 |95.40 |88.00 |76.04 |60.19 |42.62 |27.05 |15.91 | 8.40 | 3.60 | 1.15 | 0.14
1990-91 ..|  493,252 |100.00 |95.08 |87.45 |75.29 |58.94 |41.99 |26.71 |15.18 | 7.98 | 3.51 | 1.16 | 0.14
1991-92 ..|  491,748 |100.00 |94.89 |87.46 |75.34 |60.23 |42.68 |26.98 |15.16 | 8.00 | 3.55 | 1.10 | 0.15
1992-93 ..|  495,086 |100.00 |94.98 |87.55 |75.35 |59.75 |42.21 |27.18 |16.01 | 8.60 | 3.83 | 1.18 | 0.15
1993-94...|  493,063 |100.00 |94.67 |86.93 |74.71 |58.21 |41.15 |26.90 |15.54 | 8.10 | 3.61 | 1.23 | 0.15
1994-95...|  496,016 |100.00 |95.18 |87.98 |75.83 |60.28 |42.47 |27.32 |16.68 | 8.78 | 3.94 | 1.31 | 0.15
          |          |       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
  Female  |          |       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
1975-76 ..|  505,183 |100.00 |96.14 |88.97 |77.05 |59.65 |42.38 |27.55 |15.13 | 7.92 | 3.42 | 1.17 | 0.24
1980-81 ..|  515,598 |100.00 |94.99 |86.23 |73.66 |56.32 |38.56 |24.11 |12.80 | 6.39 | 2.73 | 0.94 | 0.18
1985-86 ..|  519,271 |100.00 |95.46 |88.04 |76.11 |59.95 |41.31 |26.42 |14.57 | 7.09 | 2.85 | 0.88 | 0.12
1986-87 ..|  560,100 |100.00 |95.93 |88.07 |75.60 |58.67 |41.26 |26.13 |14.05 | 7.14 | 2.87 | 0.90 | 0.11
1987-88 ..|  590,299 |100.00 |95.50 |87.76 |74.82 |58.33 |39.93 |24.76 |13.32 | 6.29 | 2.66 | 0.74 | 0.06
1988-89 ..|  566,994 |100.00 |95.45 |87.42 |73.88 |57.42 |39.75 |24.58 |13.21 | 6.68 | 2.61 | 0.69 | 0.08
1989-90 ..|  535,103 |100.00 |95.01 |86.93 |73.98 |57.34 |38.88 |23.34 |13.04 | 6.53 | 2.70 | 0.86 | 0.10
1990-91 ..|  539,433 |100.00 |94.71 |86.52 |73.55 |56.33 |38.90 |23.85 |13.08 | 6.58 | 2.81 | 0.92 | 0.12
1991-92 ..|  542,383 |100.00 |94.53 |86.49 |73.34 |57.28 |39.40 |24.00 |12.98 | 6.62 | 2.84 | 0.87 | 0.12
1992-93 ..|  549,379 |100.00 |94.74 |86.88 |74.13 |57.76 |39.62 |24.50 |13.84 | 7.01 | 2.95 | 0.83 | 0.09
1993-94...|  557,323 |100.00 |94.84 |87.01 |74.47 |57.28 |39.49 |25.10 |14.06 | 7.12 | 3.06 | 1.00 | 0.12
1994-95...|  571,977 |100.00 |95.29 |87.95 |75.39 |59.40 |41.28 |25.83 |15.38 | 7.80 | 3.40 | 1.10 | 0.11
          |----------|-------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------
          |                                         Mathematical
  Total   |-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1975-76 ..|  999,776 |100.00 |98.78 |93.65 |83.55 |70.87 |57.16 |41.82 |26.94 |16.34 | 8.49 | 3.75 | 1.16
1980-81 ..|  993,672 |100.00 |98.85 |92.99 |82.77 |70.48 |55.57 |40.59 |25.98 |14.45 | 7.08 | 2.71 | 0.66
1985-86 ..|1,000,747 |100.00 |98.91 |93.63 |84.64 |71.98 |57.41 |42.32 |29.29 |17.95 | 9.56 | 4.08 | 1.01
1986-87 ..|1,080,426 |100.00 |98.91 |93.30 |84.22 |71.61 |57.40 |42.37 |29.67 |18.32 | 9.94 | 3.86 | 1.02
1987-88 ..|1,134,364 |100.00 |99.08 |93.93 |84.62 |72.17 |57.43 |43.03 |29.55 |17.60 | 9.26 | 3.78 | 0.91
1988-89 ..|1,088,223 |100.00 |99.08 |94.04 |84.57 |71.97 |57.94 |42.81 |29.33 |18.01 |10.07 | 4.27 | 1.11
1989-90 ..|1,025,523 |100.00 |98.89 |93.77 |84.21 |71.57 |57.71 |43.20 |29.59 |18.41 |10.14 | 4.23 | 1.18
1990-91 ..|1,032,685 |100.00 |98.83 |93.63 |83.49 |70.80 |56.63 |42.68 |29.27 |17.85 | 9.70 | 4.51 | 1.32
1991-92 ..|1,034,131 |100.00 |98.70 |93.65 |84.25 |71.81 |57.96 |43.36 |28.83 |18.12 |10.10 | 4.60 | 1.37
1992-93 ..|1,044,465 |100.00 |98.49 |93.34 |84.28 |72.33 |58.55 |44.39 |29.78 |18.80 |10.63 | 5.11 | 1.62
1993-94...|1,050,386 |100.00 |98.51 |93.75 |84.49 |72.99 |59.13 |44.48 |30.21 |18.90 |10.56 | 4.85 | 1.42
1994-95...|1,067,993 |100.00 |98.95 |94.49 |83.96 |71.65 |57.65 |44.37 |31.58 |21.51 |12.44 | 5.65 | 1.49
          |          |       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
   Male   |          |       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
1975-76 ..|  494,619 |100.00 |99.13 |95.37 |87.63 |77.29 |65.30 |50.65 |34.93 |22.71 |12.70 | 6.02 | 1.99
1980-81 ..|  478,301 |100.00 |99.20 |94.98 |87.17 |77.17 |63.99 |49.45 |33.92 |20.38 |10.75 | 4.46 | 1.17
1985-86 ..|  481,477 |100.00 |99.24 |95.38 |88.49 |78.26 |65.53 |51.16 |37.47 |24.49 |14.00 | 6.44 | 1.73
1986-87 ..|  520,326 |100.00 |99.16 |94.91 |87.75 |77.36 |64.90 |50.74 |37.66 |24.82 |14.47 | 6.15 | 1.75
1987-88 ..|  544,065 |100.00 |99.31 |95.37 |87.91 |77.48 |64.40 |50.71 |36.91 |23.63 |13.43 | 5.96 | 1.57
1988-89 ..|  521,229 |100.00 |99.30 |95.45 |88.00 |77.62 |65.19 |50.91 |37.13 |24.43 |14.62 | 6.70 | 1.89
1989-90 ..|  490,420 |100.00 |99.16 |95.17 |87.70 |77.13 |64.71 |50.81 |36.85 |24.40 |14.41 | 6.53 | 2.00
1990-91 ..|  493,252 |100.00 |99.08 |94.91 |86.79 |76.22 |63.65 |50.40 |36.59 |23.82 |13.93 | 6.96 | 2.23
1991-92 ..|  491,748 |100.00 |98.99 |95.05 |87.50 |77.03 |64.73 |50.88 |36.01 |24.05 |14.28 | 6.96 | 2.24
1992-93 ..|  495,086 |100.00 |98.83 |94.73 |87.55 |77.69 |65.50 |52.10 |37.18 |25.00 |15.09 | 7.77 | 2.69
1993-94...|  493,063 |100.00 |98.86 |94.97 |87.55 |77.92 |65.65 |51.91 |37.27 |24.78 |14.75 | 7.28 | 2.29
1994-95...|  496,016 |100.00 |99.16 |95.56 |87.03 |76.62 |63.97 |51.17 |38.13 |27.22 |16.75 | 8.12 | 2.34
          |          |       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
  Female  |          |       |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |      |
1975-76 ..|  505,157 |100.00 |98.45 |91.96 |79.56 |64.59 |49.20 |33.17 |19.12 |10.11 | 4.37 | 1.53 | 0.34
1980-81 ..|  515,371 |100.00 |98.53 |91.14 |78.69 |64.27 |47.76 |32.37 |18.60 | 8.94 | 3.66 | 1.09 | 0.19
1985-86 ..|  519,270 |100.00 |98.61 |92.01 |81.07 |66.16 |49.87 |34.12 |21.70 |11.88 | 5.45 | 1.89 | 0.34
1986-87 ..|  560,100 |100.00 |98.67 |91.80 |80.93 |66.26 |50.44 |34.59 |22.25 |12.29 | 5.74 | 1.73 | 0.33
1987-88 ..|  590,299 |100.00 |98.87 |92.60 |81.58 |67.28 |51.00 |35.94 |22.78 |12.05 | 5.42 | 1.77 | 0.30
1988-89 ..|  566,994 |100.00 |98.87 |92.75 |81.42 |66.77 |51.27 |35.37 |22.15 |12.11 | 5.90 | 2.03 | 0.39
1989-90 ..|  535,103 |100.00 |98.65 |92.50 |81.01 |66.47 |51.30 |36.22 |22.94 |12.92 | 6.22 | 2.12 | 0.44
1990-91 ..|  539,433 |100.00 |98.60 |92.45 |80.48 |65.85 |50.22 |35.62 |22.57 |12.40 | 5.83 | 2.26 | 0.49
1991-92 ..|  542,383 |100.00 |98.45 |92.37 |81.31 |67.07 |51.82 |36.54 |22.32 |12.74 | 6.30 | 2.45 | 0.57
1992-93 ..|  549,379 |100.00 |98.18 |92.09 |81.34 |67.50 |52.28 |37.45 |23.11 |13.21 | 6.61 | 2.72 | 0.65
1993-94...|  557,323 |100.00 |98.25 |92.72 |81.79 |68.64 |53.36 |37.92 |23.96 |13.69 | 6.86 | 2.69 | 0.65
1994-95...|  571,977 |100.00 |98.76 |93.55 |81.30 |67.34 |52.18 |38.46 |25.89 |16.56 | 8.70 | 3.50 | 0.75
----------|----------|-------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------

\1\Formerly known as the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

NOTE.--Possible scores on each part of the SAT range from 200 to 800. In some years, mathematics and verbal test results were not available for every student.

SOURCE: College Entrance Examination Board, National Report on College-Bound Seniors, various years. (Copyright © 1995 by the College Entrance Examination Board. All rights reserved.) (This table was prepared November 1995.)


1996 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest