Virginia Math SOL pass rates drastically decreased statewide after the adoption of harder standards last school year, according to the Richmond Times Dispatch. The seventh grade had the lowest pass rate at 58 percent; the highest pass rate was 75 percent on Algebra I tests. The tests made use of new types of questions, namely multi-step problems that prevent successful guessing. “While we have a long climb before we reach the achievement levels we hope to see … the results released today represent a good start and provide a solid foundation for further progress in 2012-2013,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Patricia Wright said in a press release.