Asian Americans and Testing

This entry examines the performance of Asian American students on tests and looks at the cultural traditions and other factors thought to be behind their generally strong academic performance. Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent or the first-generation immigrants from Asia. Asian Americans, particularly children of those who immigrated to the United States after World War II, are perceived as high achievers in their scholarly work and are stereotyped as good test takers in U.S. schools.

Asians began coming to the United States in the early 19th century, but most have come since the passage of the Immigration Act of 1965, which eliminated the use of immigration quotas based on national origin. According to 2014 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the total population of Asian Americans ...