COLLEGE READINESS EXAMS
Tennessee requires specific assessments to measure whether or not students are on track to graduate ready
for college and career. The assessments include the ACT in the eleventh grade. Tennessee is one of thirteen
states that now administer the ACT to every eleventh-grade student. Students meeting the ACT benchmark
scores in English, reading, math, and science have an approximately 50 percent chance of earning a B or higher
and an approximately 75 percent chance of earning a C or higher in their corresponding college subject area
courses. Since 2010, Tennessee has seen progress in terms of the percentage of students meeting the college
readiness benchmarks. However, Tennessee high school juniors continue to score at college-ready levels below
national averages and trail many other states with universal ACT administration. In 2015, only 17 percent of public
high school test-takers met all four ACT benchmarks.177 Among the 24 states in which more than 70 percent of
high school students took the ACT in 2015, Tennessee’s overall average composite score of 19.8 (on a scale of
36) ranked above only four.
PERCENTAGE OF PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
MEETING COLLEGE REA DINESS BENCHMARKS
Percentage
of Students
Proficient or
Advanced
All Four
Science
Math
Reading
English
0
10
20
80
90
100
42%
27%
46%
35%
64%
NATION
TENNESSEE
70
27%
NATION
TENNESSEE
60
38%
NATION
TENNESSEE
50
17%
NATION
TENNESSEE
40
28%
NATION
TENNESSEE
30
54%
Since becoming a requirement in 2010, Tennessee’s average ACT composite score has been below the national
average. However, Tennessee’s gains on the ACT composite between 2012-13 and 2013-14 were considered
“noteworthy” by ACT officials.178 Starting in 2012-13, ACT made two important changes. First, the college readiness
benchmarks were altered in reading and science to more accurately reflect readiness for college-level coursework.
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