Caltech Rolls Out 'Bucket System" for Test Scores

[ucbalumnus]

@Bruno99

Their bucket A is above the 99th percentile for both tests. Their bucket B is approximately equal to 98-99th percentile for both tests. On section-by-section scores a 750 SAT math is “only” 95th percentile while an ACT 33 in math is 98th percentile. Why do you think there is some sort of unfair advantage to those who take the ACT?

Test	Bucket A	A-equiv	Bucket B	B-equiv	Bucket C
SAT	780-800	35-36M, 35-36E+R	750-770	33-35M, 35E+R	<= 740
ACT	35-36	780-800M, 750-790RW	33-34	740-760M, 710-740RW	<= 33

Equivalencies based on ACT to SAT Score Conversion Chart | ACT/SAT Concordance

Perhaps this is a way for Caltech to practice “affirmative action” toward applicants from ACT-dominant states (mainly in the central part of the US), since the SAT-dominant states tend to be on the west coast and in the northeast (and international applicants).