After two years of investigation, a panel appointed to advise the College Entrance Examination Board and Educational Testing Service on the recent change in Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores concluded that the 14-year score decline is a complex phenomenon, yielding neither simple explanations nor easy solutions. As a result of looking at the technical aspects of the SAT score decline, the panel determined that the drop does not result from the test having become harder. A larger part of the decline between 1963 and 1970 was traced to compositional changes in the college-bound population. As compared to l5 or 20 years ago, a broader cross section of American youth are taking the test. The panel identified six other developments that have also contributed to this decline: proliferation of elective courses, particularly in the area of English and verbal skills; a diminished seriousness of purpose in the learning process as reflected in tolerance of excessive absenteeism, grade inflation, easier textbooks, and generally lowered standards; increased viewing of television; changing structure of the family; social turbulence of the 1960's and 1970's; and decreased learning motivation. (Author/EVH)