@garyasho2 Yes! I totally agree that index scores appear to have gradually increased from the first year of the old test - 2005 through 2014. In addition, while I haven’t analyzed every year, the 2005 curves seemed to be more generous than the last two years when my kids took the PSAT as freshmen and sophomores. So, if that is true, you could miss a few more questions and get the same score AND the cutoff was lower.
My prediction is that scores will come off slightly. The lowest SI in the 99th percentile (that we know of) is 207. Last year’s was 2013. Based on the 12 point difference, we could have expected 201-203. So it appears that the scoring is compressed. We are in Texas where the cutoff was 220, but in prior years it ranged from 215-219 with the 219 coming more towards the last few years.
We can question the percentiles being based on a sample, but I guess that they will be close to actuals. There may be some “tweaking”, but I don’t think a 98th percentile score will fall to 96th or something like that.
I got a 34/38 on the writing and a 36.5/38 on the math (I’m proud of these with no studying). Sadly, I got a 28/38 on the reading :(( . Firstly, I’m terrible at time management and always rush to answer the reading questions. Any tips on success in the reading section? It would be greatly appreciated; thanks!
I think it’s a red herring to focus on figuring out the magic percentile cutoff. It probably doesn’t work that way.
The bottom line is that NM Corp and the College Board are politically savvy enough to realize that if there is not adequate NM finalist representation in each state, then the students & schools lose interest in the SAT and will defect to the ACT.
This is how I think it’s done:
NM Corp determines roughly how many NMSF they want in each state (based on proportional population representation), then they simply take the top selection index scorers in each state, irrespective of score percentile, to meet that quota.
It took awhile, but finally my son got his scores. He got a 1490 or 222. His friend also got the same scores and missed less questions, but yet they had the exact scores 1490 or 222. My son missed 7 reading questions perfect score writing and math. His friend missed two reading questions and two writing questions. How is it possible they have the same score. They are both from Maine. Will a 222 be enough do you think for Maine. Last year was a 211or 212 was the cut off.
@fun1234 How did you get your scores? Did you ask the counselor?
Also, its possible to get the same score because reading/writing is weighted 2x more than math, and the curve for math was very lenient this year. A 222 would almost for sure be good enough for Maine.
@Benji3025 you seem to be a very good test-taker so have you considered taking the ACT this year as a sophomore? That’s what my D3 did and she ended up doing really well on it. She had taken the PLAN which was administered by her school so we knew what she was capable of scoring. And her ACT prep really helped her with the PSAT I think.
Regardless of when you do take it, start with a cold practice test (under simulated test conditions) so you have a base line. You might need to spend more time on reading than math - and that’s ok. Spending time on your weak areas will help bring those up and improve your score!
Just a comment on how people have said their classmates scored–
A lot of people on this thread have said that the juniors they talked to from their school got low scores so the CC representation might be skewed, but at my school I would say the opposite was true. I go to a pretty high achieving Southern CA public high school and I know at least 9 people so far that scored at least a 220 SI. And here’s the kicker: that number is only out of the ~50-100 people whose scores I’ve heard… my school has about 600 people in the junior class and we usually have around 15 semifinalists per grade.
That makes me (as someone who got a 220 SI) scared that the cutoff might be >220. Did others have the same experience or might my school be an exception?
@Mamelot Thanks a lot for the feedback. It seems like your D3 was in the same boat that I am. I’m trying not to stress too much about my subpar (by my standards) reading score, and I am convinced that ACT prep classes and personal prep will naturally boost my score, considering the ACT reading and SAT reading tests are formatted similarly. I appreciate the base line suggestion; I’m sure that it will help with tracking progress. I made a few silly mistakes on the writing test (I’m sure I could have got a 37-38/38), and I’m confident with the math test, so I think that your advice of hammering hard on the reading test will be beneficial to me. Thanks a ton!
@PAMom21 I did not see the statement you mention about year 2012. The only statement I see is:“Nationally representative percentiles are derived via a research study sample of U.S. students in 11th grade, weighted to represent all 11th grade U.S. students, regardless of whether they typically take the PSAT/NMSQT and PSAT 10. For example, a student’s score in the 75th percentile means that 75% of the nationally representative group of 11th grade U.S. students would have had scores at or below that student’s score.”
@LAD2266 Just to shed some light on your concern, your school’s 15 semifinalists a year is certainly a rarity. For example, my school has NEVER had a single semifinalist nor a commended student, for that matter. There are lots of schools like mine, so you have to realize that it all equals out in the end between the elite schools (like yours) and the rest of the schools (like mine).
Collegeboard’s concordance tables are going to be revised this may, is there a chance that major changes will be made to the table? Will a 1390 change from a 205 on the old psat to a 218?
@LAD2266 By mentioning that your school usually has 15 NMSF, that makes the entire point pointless really. In a state like California with 1000+ NSMF’s, your research isn’t troublesome at all. The point that I and many earlier commenters have made is that you’re obviously smart if you’re on CC and got 99th percentile. And usually, smart people have mainly smart friends. It’s just a fact of life. So you asked the (however many you asked) people that you were most comfortable with asking probably. And these people were probably all very smart. Basically I think that 220 might be the highest state cutoff. I think there’s a better chance of NJ, D.C., etc. having a cutoff of 218 or 219, but 220 is possible.
It was very frustrating because I had to call CB twice and each time they said wait it would be out Saturday at the latest so I am not sure if calling them up helped to link my account, but I never had an access code it just suddenly appeared which I did think I needed one because my son had two different accounts. the guidance though was no help they had codes, but no names
In response to post #3490, #3492 and #3493 page 233
Read: 35, Write: 33, Math: 37.5. SI 211
Report shows 99th National Percentile and 99th User Percentile.
Well results posted in #3490, is not the lowest 99th Percentile. Hope to lift your spirit up. Good posting
