SAT curve

mdsu · 01-12-2009, 10:23 PM

I just read about someone saying that theres curves on the SAT's?

Can someone explain in more detail about this? Will i be lucky and get a good curve if everyone in the room arnt as smart? not sure i get it.

cymvhs · 01-13-2009, 08:48 PM

They re-scale tests since some might be harder/easier/just plain different than others, but since it's generally v. standardized, a curved/scaled score helps you compare scores form test date to test date and year to year.

stephennn · 01-13-2009, 09:09 PM

no the curve isn't based on how that days test takers perform on the exam. the collegeboard deems certain questions easy, difficult, medium, etc. and PREdetermines the curves. so just because the bottom 50% of your high school is taking the exam in january, doesn't mean that you will score higher.

nw09 · 01-14-2009, 12:36 AM

in general, there's no need for a curve. i somewhat agree with stephennn; i also want to point out that the collegeboard intentionally (and is good at) writes the test questions in such a way that they get the average score on each part as close as possible to 500, with a normal (symmetrical) bell curve distribution for the entire population on each test date.

technically, there is no curve b/c the questions already curve the test. the only time there might be some scaling is if there are some problems with disputable answers (which are usually clear--a bunch of people miss it).

fignewton · 01-14-2009, 01:30 PM

^No, the curve is necessary and serves an important purpose: make a 700 (say) mean the same level of skill no matter when you take the SAT. The CB does not make the average score a 500, in fact these averages vary from one year to the next. Before the scale was recentered, averages were in the low 400s and had been trending lower for years ...

10minoffame · 01-15-2009, 06:55 PM

I make dumb mistakes on easy questions and nail some hard ones - should not my score be higher then those who does all the easy questions right but can't do the hard ones? It does not work that way, so the curve does not really make the SAT a fair thing.

fignewton · 01-16-2009, 12:35 PM

Being "good" at math is more than just knowing enough to do harder problems, it also includes being careful and analytical. I think that the correct answers to hard questions should be offset equally by mistakes on easy questions ... the truly good math students both avoid mistakes on easy questions and get the hard ones.

RichardHK · 01-17-2009, 08:12 AM

^^+1 well said fignewton. To improve your scores, work on self-discipline as well as swotting.