I’ll try to explain my thinking.

I’m familiar with how standardized testing is biased against certain school populations. They are targeted towards an upper middle class college prep culture and requires a way of thinking and schooling that has nothing to do with raw skills.

In short: the wording of some questions and exercises is confusing unless one is drilled and practices these.

So historically, low income schools had a double problem in their testing: funding and no prep for the very opinionated questions.

But these new trends occur in all types of schools with different funding. It’s a cultural shift across all socioeconomic groups. The students relate less well to the questions, no matter rich or poor. And it started before AI.

So one can conclude either there is something wrong with the students only. Something is wrong with the tests, or a combination.

I think these tests are showing a shifting way of thinking and interacting in younger people.