I’m new to the college search process since my oldest is a sophomore, and therefore I’m a bit clueless about how the scores work. I’ve googled my question but am now more confused. Son got a 1360 out of 1520 with percents 99/99/97 on the PSAT taken in fall 2015 (it was the new one). His school has the service online called Naviance and it is projecting his SAT at 1130. His selection index is 206. I was able to see that he needs 215 for National Merit (for our “new” state cut off). I’m confused why Naviance would project a 1130 when the PSAT is a 1360. I know the PSAT is easier, but I thought that was why the upper end was reduced to 1520. I just can’t figure out how to use his current score as a prediction. Could anyone illuminate this for me?
Naviance is probably using an old PSAT or practice SAT, not the new one. I’m having the same problem. Do you have other tests out there?
@contdes, congrats on his 1360. Naviance is only good as the data being inputed by the school as no a 1360/1520 doesn’t concord to a 1130/1600 - it’s much higher and safe to say a 1400 -1450 on new SAT
There has been a ton of discussion about predictions on CC already but here’s a primer for you:
-
The new PSAT is aligned to the new SAT: “Keep in mind, the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT are on the same scale. Your score shows you how you would have scored that day on the SAT.” (from the PSAT score report). So that Naviance prediction of 1130 isn’t right.
-
Total score is not the best indicator for National Merit. You need to look just at Selection Index. Total score averages the reading and writing (50% of the total); math is the other 50%. The SI weighs each subject 1/3 (as it has in the past). Someone who is relatively better in math might end up with a lower SI than someone who excels in reading and writing, even if both receive the same Total Score.
-
Do not look at “National Representative” percentiles - only look at User Group. Both are based on a research study but the former are weighted for ALL 10th graders (even those who wouldn’t take the PSAT) while the latter are weighted to represent those who would take the test.
-
Cut-offs haven’t been determined yet and won’t be until September. Anything now is an estimation. For further research check out these links. Lots of methods, anecdotes, and some real data in the third link:
http://collegeadmissions.testmasters.com/update-psat-scores-cut-national-merit-2016/
-
For more info. about this year’s PSAT go to: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/2015-psat-nmsqt-understanding-scores.pdf
-
Check out the ACT/SAT forum of CC for more discussion.
Ah! Yes, I think you must be right. He took the PSAT as a 9th grader, too. That score (174) is also in the Naviance data under test scores, along with the new one of 1360. I bet the data hasn’t been upgraded/integrated yet with the graphs. It did seem really strange. Thanks for that insight!
@Mamelot, Thanks for the user group tip. I found that info online and 700 in Eng/etc = 99% but math of 660 = 96%, so he clearly needs to put more attention into the math part of it. But that does make more sense.
And thanks for all those links! I’m slowly learning. I’m actually a college professor, but I don’t know a thing about admissions. The irony!
I’m a bit annoyed that the naviance info is not working properly either. CB was 6 weeks late with scores, school finally loaded them last week, but they are not working correctly in the graphs (as you mentioned). Which goes to show you how you have to question/verify everything you are given for accuracy.
According to the concordance, a 1360 is equal to approximately 1980 or 1990 under the old SAT system.
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/psat-nmsqt-preliminary-concordance-tables-2015.pdf.
I would use this number for now to help research colleges and scholarships.