<p>Recently, I’ve been disappointed by my test scores, despite their being good enough for everyone else.</p>
<p>A week ago, at a Science Olympiads competition, I got 1st place in Physics, but I was disappointed that I only got 55%… I wanted 100%.</p>
<p>At the same competition I got 144/200 on Fermi Questions (questions like “How many bricks are in the Great Wall of China?” or “How many cents would it cost to travel to every capital in the United States by car?”, and you have to give the correct power of ten it’s in), but I was disappointed I didn’t get a 200.</p>
<p>On another test at that competition, I had a partner and there were five different sciences covered in one test… on each of the three sections I did (my partner did the other two), I got the highest score of everyone who took the tests, but I’m disappointed I didn’t get 100% on the ones I did–and the ones I didn’t do, I think I should’ve just done myself.</p>
<p>On the SAT, I didn’t have enough discipline to study, but I ended up getting a 2330… I’m disappointed I didn’t get a 2400 and for some reason, I keep thinking I’m going to need to retake it.</p>
<p>On the ITEDs (Iowa Test of Educational Development), I got a 99th percentile on every section (around 10) except Critical Reading… and I was immensely disappointed I didn’t get that 99.</p>
<p>I’ve never really been a perfectionist, I just can’t stand not having done as well as I could have done.</p>
<p>You’re a perfectionist. But I’m in the same boat as you. I always got 99th on my IOWAs in EVERYTHING and then I get to things like PLAN and I bomb it. I don’t do olympiads cause I don’t have the time but I wouldn’t do good there either. </p>
<p>It’s not good or bad. Just be happy with the scores you do get. If you’re not, work to improve them.</p>
<p>you want an honest answer? youre just really weird. Be happy for what you got. Dont take it for granted. Many people would kill get such high scores.</p>
<p>also, this thread is pointless, but thanks for giving me a chance to call you wierd.</p>
<p>Well, I think for high-achieving students as are generally found on CC, it is perfectly normal to have passing annoyance whenever you don’t do perfectly…</p>
<p>However, for it to seriously bother you enough to post this, is a little worrying. As is the fact that not doing perfectly seems to have stripped any enjoyment out of doing well for you.</p>
<p>Or, this could just be a brag thread, in which case…shut up.</p>
<p>Well, I enjoyed having the knowledge that I won that stuff for Science Olympiads… but when I wasn’t wearing the medals I won (everyone else was), the teacher asked me why, and I just said “I don’t care about winning anything…”, because I really didn’t care about beating people, I just cared about getting 100%.</p>
<p>I’m not bragging… compared to everyone else on CC, this is nothing to brag about =-). But I feel inferior to no one (not even CCers, lol).</p>
<p>This has only been happening in the last month or so… Of course, it was after my teacher(s) told me I was wasting my potential. But I’m not one to care what others have to say, so I’m not sure. I just really want to get perfect on everything, lol… I’ve even started running and doing other exercise more…</p>
<p>It’s the same reason someone from a really disadvantaged background would be really happy to even go to a community college, while someone whose siblings all went to Harvard would be disappointed if he didn’t get in too.</p>
<p>If Fermi Q is graded the same way in your state it is in mine (5 points for the exact exponent, 3 for plus/minus 1, and 1 point for plus/minus 2), then a 144/200 is REALLY really good: about 3.6 points per question. Being able to guess within one or two exponents of the number of grains of sand found on all the beaches of the world is a pretty impressive skill, one that I doubt anyone could perfect. Even Enrico Fermi, after whom the event is named, probably couldn’t get a 200/200. No one is expected to get a perfect score on this event. Just be content with your 1st place (and your 2330, and your whatever-else-awards-(numerous-I’m-sure)-you’ve-received)!</p>