SAT Math Shows Gain; Verbal Scores Stagnant

Washington

The number of high school students taking challenging courses such as precalculus, calculus, and physics has increased over the past 10 years, contributing to a record-high score on the math portion of SAT for the class of 2005, the College Board said last week.

The average score was 520 out of a possible 800 in mathematics, 2 points higher than for the class of 2004, and 14 points above the score posted by the class of 1995, according to the New York City-based organization that sponsors the college-admissions test.

On the verbal portion of the SAT, the average score remained the same as last year’s, 508 out of 800, and has registered an increase of only...