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 of 20 ethnic groups has reached 19 million, about 5.6% of the entire U.S. population. This percentage is up from less than 1% in 1965. The six largest groups of this population are Chinese (23%), Filipinos (20%), Indian (17%), Korean (10%), Vietnamese (10%), and Japanese (9%). Over 60% of Asian Americans are immigrants.

The most recent wave of Asian immigrants has been different from those who came in the 19th century escaping poverty to work as manual laborers on the transcontinental railroad. Many who have arrived since the 1980s, particularly those from China and India, have been immigrant investors or graduate students gaining entry to institutions for higher education. These Indians and [Page 122]Chinese newcomers are on average well-educated and prosperous, whereas other Asian immigrants, especially those coming as refugees from Southeast Asia with limited English proficiency, often struggle to adapt their lives in the United States.