Interestingly, the scores have been in free fall since the pandemic started and cannot be explained by learning loss from lockdowns as the effects are observed even after in school learning has resumed.
One possible explanation is cognitive loss due to covid infections:
ACT is not an IQ test though. IQ tests test logic, reasoning, and other metrics. The ACT is a strictly educational test with only minor reasoning portions.
Right, but what about who is taking the test?
If the distribution of test takers is skewed, that could influence numbers like average result…
Not many, and mostly those who view the test highly and prepare for it, as it costs a lot of money. There were more students that took it in 2022 as opposed to 2021 (36% vs 35%), but this is down nearly 12% from 2012 when 48% of students took it.
This is not an issue of applicant pool dilution.
