Data regarding perfect ACT/SAT scorers?

JHS
Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:01:22 +0000

10jarsle, you are right that the top score stands in for a “long tail” of even higher possible scores on a more discriminating test, but silverturtle is right to note that feature is not likely to mean much on its own in the college admission process. Most of the top-score scorers will not really be more than 50 points better than the next-top scorers, and college admissions staffs don’t really care about 50-point or less differences. If someone really is meaningfully more intelligent and skilled than the test can measure, that will come out in myriad other ways in the application, and be taken into account. But the same will also be true of some people who made almost-top scores on the test.

In other words, high scores more or less ensure that someone will pay attention to the other evidence of what you may contribute, but small differences among high scores mean little if anything, except to the extent they help confirm what other elements of the application (recommendations, grades, essays) show.