Largest and most diverse group takes SAT

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- More U.S. students in the class of 2007 took the Scholastic Aptitude Test and the group was the most diverse ever, the College Board said Tuesday.

Average scores in all three sections of the test went down slightly compared to 2006. The average in critical reading was 504, down one point from last year, while the averages in mathematics and writing dipped three points to 515 and 494.

"The record number of students, coupled with the diversity of SAT takers in the class of 2007, means that an increasing number of students in this country are recognizing the importance of a college education and are taking the steps necessary to get there," said Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board. "I am encouraged by the greater numbers of students from all walks of life who are taking on the challenge of the SAT.“

A total of 1,494,531 students took the test. Four out of 10 were members of minority groups with Hispanics the fastest-growing one.

Almost one-quarter of the SAT-takers came from homes where English is not the first language, up from 17 percent in 1997.