The board said combined math and reading scores on the college entrance exam dropped 7 points from 2005 but the decline represents less than a single percentage point.

Math scores for both genders dropped 2 points, bringing the male standard to 536, the female average to 502 and the overall total to 518. Critical reading scores, overall 503, dropped 8 points for males to 505, while female scores declined 3 points to 502. The maximum score on each segment is 800.

The College Board attributed the decline in scores to changes in student test-taking patterns.

"When a new test is introduced, students usually vary their test-taking behavior in a variety of ways and this affects scores," said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board.

The board said the average score for the writing portion, new to the test in 2006, was 497, with females averaging 502 and males scoring 491.

Many colleges and universities use SAT scores in their applicant acceptance process. Nearly 1.5 million people took the test last year.