ACT Test Performance by Advanced Placement Students in Memphis City Schools

ABSTRACT

The authors investigated the extent to which taking specific types of Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the number of courses taken predicts the likelihood of passing subject benchmarks and earning a score of 19 on the composite score on the ACT test, and examined the role gender plays in the projection. They found evidence that taking an AP mathematics course and taking more AP courses derives a positive benefit. Results suggest young men are more likely to succeed in passing ACT mathematics and ACT science tests than are young women, but no gender difference was found on ACT Reading and ACT social studies.

Keywords:

• ACT
• AP English
• AP mathematics
• AP science
• AP social studies
• benchmark

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This study is sponsored by the grant of Institute of Education Science within the U.S. Department of Education (R305A090528). The first author would like to express thanks to his colleagues: Ms. Meghan Carr, Dr. Marie Sell, Mr. Floyd Deal, Dr. Brant Riedel, Dr. Jeff Shive, and Dr. John Barker.