Aug. 25 (Bloomberg) -- A record percentage of minority students in the U.S. high school class of 2009 took standardized SAT tests, as more Hispanics sought college entry.

About 40 percent of graduating high school students taking the SAT were minorities compared with 38 percent in 2008, the College Board said in a statement today. Hispanics, the largest and fastest-growing minority taking the test, accounted for 13.5 percent of all SAT takers, according to the New York-based nonprofit group.

More than 1.5 million students, a record, took the exams, which are widely used in the admissions process, the board said. Students’ math scores were, on average, were 515, four points higher than a decade ago, while critical-reading scores fell four points, to 501 on average, the College Board said. A perfect score is 800 for each test, and the smallest possible score is 200.

“As the equity gap narrows, more than ever, the SAT reflects the diversity of students in our nation’s classrooms,” Gaston Caperton, the College Board’s president, said in the statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: John Lauerman in Boston at jlauerman@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: August 25, 2009 17:12 EDT