Ability tilt on the SAT and ACT predicts specific abilities and college majors

This research examined the validity of ability tilt, measured as within-subject differences in math and verbal scores on the SAT and ACT. Tilt scores were correlated with academic abilities (math and verbal) and college majors (STEM and humanities), both drawn from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth. Math tilt (math > verbal) correlated positively with math ability and negatively with verbal ability, whereas verbal tilt (verbal > math) showed the opposite pattern. In addition, math tilt was associated with STEM majors (e.g., science and math), whereas verbal tilt was associated with humanities majors (e.g., English and history). Both math and verbal tilt were unrelated to non-academic abilities (speed and shop) and g. The results support niche-picking and investment theories, in which investment in one area (math) means less investment in competing areas (verbal).