TheNexus

Hey guys,

Just wondering what your guys' opinions is on the theory that many students get better scores on actual than practice tests? I've noticed this to be true for quite a few friends..

Examples from people in my AP Physics class (so they are relatively smart):

Kid behind me got highest score of 2260 while practicing, but 2330 on actual.
Kid on my left was getting 2270-2320 while practicing, 2400 actual.
Kid on diagonally behind only broke 2200 3 times while practicing, got 2300 actual.

I'm scoring 2230-2280 on practices, but I'd like to get 2300+ and so I'm praying that this theory has some sort of validity. What are your guys' thoughts on this?

MagneticSeesaw

Statistics show that it's more likely but not provable. The testing environment is different than the practice tests; you may feel more concentrated and take the test more seriously therefore likely to make less mistakes.

I'd say it is possible for you though.

TheNexus

Yeah I've heard somehow you're a lot more focused/concentrated in the actual testing room, but I've always thought of being this focused/concentrated as making me mess up, by making simple mistakes, but I'm not quite sure. I've also heard that breaks are also potential causes to such an increase, but again, nothing concrete.

I'm hoping I can break 2300 tomorrow. Let's see. Anybody else have any insight on this topic?

FastNeutrino

My score on the actual thing was like 100 points higher than my average score on practice tests. And it was a jump from a 2150 to a 2250, so it's not as if making a 100 point jump is easy.

Peznek

This is my first time taking the SAT, so I'm not sure if my score will jump or not, but I would assume practice books and tests are designed to be harder so that you're not under prepared come test day. As such, you do better on the official test because you're just that prepared for it.

TheNexus

Wow, fastneutrino. That's really impressive. It'd be crazy if I got like a 2350 tomorrow, but I doubt a 100 point jump between 2250ish to the 2300's is possible :P

HelloParis

My range for the practice tests (all offical CB tests) has been from the 1800-2000 range. I am hoping that I will be able to break 2000 tomorrow, since I'll feel more motivated/concentrated when I'm actually about to take it.

BigG9695

I definitely hope that's true lol, 2000 here I come

ratmkino

I hope this myth isn't what you're relying on to get the score you want. But truthfully, once you've hit the 99th percentile (i.e 2200 and up), colleges don't really descriminate much based on test scores; test scores are not as important as you make them out to be. Oh and by the way, the scores those kids are telling you may be superscores, whereas their practices are each taken in one setting. (Unless they superscore their practices to brag to you, which is the most idiotic idea I can think of.)

TheNexus

Nope, they are all 1 sitting.