cut-off scores/semi-finalist announcements

TQSMNTASP
Sat, 02 Oct 2010 01:17:21 +0000

Unless my calculations are incorrect, and they very well could be since I’m doing this while tired, based on the differences between this year’s cutoff scores and last year’s cutoffs:
–The nation (including DC, international, and boarding schools) made a net gain of +13 points.
–Discounting DC, international, and boarding schools, the net gain is +7 points.
–The highest gain was +6 points in Nevada (is this possibly the highest jump ever?).
–The greatest lowering of the cutoff occurred in Rhode Island with -6 points (possibly the largest decrease ever?).
–These drastic changes are not altogether complete outliers because a handful of states changed by 3 or 4 points.
–11 states’ cutoffs did not change at all.
–As per usual, MA and DC (and Internationals) share the highest cutoff (223).
–North Dakota and Wyoming share the lowest cutoff at 202 (one point above commended).

These data contradict the original CC consensus that the presence of a few tricky questions on the CR and Writing portions and a harsh cutoff on W would lead to an overall downward trend in cutoffs. This theory definitely held true for certain individual states, but I think the main lesson from the cutoffs of this year’s PSAT is that there is no such thing as a “national consensus” that will definitively reassure those seeking lower cutoffs. This year saw drastic changes previously unthinkable, so basically it goes back to the common adage: you never know.

One last comment: Perhaps Nevada students have a special penchant for knowing the difference between resentment and disdain? lol.