Because they aren't good at school period. It doesn't matter if they're in a school where the math program is decent and they've been presented all of the material already. If they're getting Cs, Ds, and Fs in their courses, they're going to do poorly when that same material shows up on a standardized test. Asians tend to get A's in their classes, so they do well when that same material shows up on a standardized test.
Perhaps it's splitting hairs, but I dont think scoring very high on that test makes one particularly great at math (although I would say doing terribly probably means you suck at it). This is because these tests aren't all that advanced.
How come the large majority of blacks and hispanics appear to fail it?
Because they aren't good at school period. It doesn't matter if they're in a school where the math program is decent and they've been presented all of the material already. If they're getting Cs, Ds, and Fs in their courses, they're going to do poorly when that same material shows up on a standardized test. Asians tend to get A's in their classes, so they do well when that same material shows up on a standardized test.
Perhaps it's splitting hairs, but I dont think scoring very high on that test makes one particularly great at math (although I would say doing terribly probably means you suck at it). This is because these tests aren't all that advanced.