Tests of College Readiness2
Of Montana’s 2009 high school graduates: 54% took ACT, 22% took SAT, and 70% took
MUSWA tests.
Average scores & Readiness thresholds3
Montana’s class of 2009 averages were above national averages and college-readiness
thresholds.
Percent ready by threshold4
Depending on the measure used, 48% to 81% of the students tested College Ready.
Students’ Planned Majors & ACT Scores5
19%: Health Sciences and Related Fields (21.9)15%: Undecided (21.9)9%: Agriculture Sciences and Technologies
(19.9)7% Business and Management (21.2)6% Biological and Physical Sciences (24.2)6% Social Sciences (24.2)6% Visual and Performing Arts (22.1)5% Engineering: (24.5)Based on 5,960 Montana High School Students
Percent of Students Ready by Subject6
ACT conducts studies to set minimum thresholds at which students will have a 75% chance of earning C’s or higher as freshmen in college. The reading score predicts success in
history and the science score predicts biology.
An Example of Aspiration/Readiness Disconnect
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Of those students interested in Health Care Fields:71% are ready for college composition55% are ready for college social sciences30% are ready for college mathematics19% are ready for college biology
Based on ACT scores in English, Reading, Math, and Science and Interest Inventory on ACT
High School Rigor Improves Readiness8
ACT and the College Board define Core as 4 yrs of English, 3 yrs math, 3 yrs science, & 3 yrs social
sciences. Both tests show significant gains for students with rigorous
high school courses.
MUSWA Has Improved Readiness in Writing
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These trend lines are based on both an increasing number of test-takers and increasing scores. In 2001, 3,365 students tested, 228 of whom were American Indian. In 2009, 7,753 students tested, 534 of whom
were American Indian.
Developmental Education Serves Under-prepared Students
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These rates are for the MUS only and do not include Community or Tribal Colleges.
In 2009, Common Course Numbering corrected possible errors in classification of developmental courses.
For more information about College Readiness
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Go to the Montana University System “Preparing for College” Website: http://mus.edu/collegeprep.asp Admissions standards Charts, graphs, helpful links Mathematics Proficiency Initiative Writing Proficiency Initiative
Contact the Director of Academic Initiatives Jan Clinard, Ed.D. 406-444-0652 [email protected]