average SAT score drops. opinions?

Test Preparation
1

<p>according to multiple news articles, average SAT scores are dropping across the nation. any thoughts as to why this is happening? </p>

<p><a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-05-10-SAT-worries_x.htm%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2006-05-10-SAT-worries_x.htm&lt;/a>
<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR2006051001435.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/10/AR2006051001435.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

2

<p>The SAT has gotten a lot longer...averaging over 4 hours.</p>

3

<p>Not sure the drop in scores represents a signficant difference, but certainly one factor that might contribute is the insane length of these tests</p>

4

<p>As a teacher, a parent and an AP proctor I can guess that making kids sit for an even longer period isn't helping their total scores. Plus now that it's so long kids are less inclined to take it again. My own daughter is dragging her heels at a second sitting even though she knows that her downfall the first time (essay) would be a strength with different timing and practice.</p>