Since 2006, 750-800 Math scores up 23%, no change in CR.

Applying to College
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<p>I’ve been looking at the [threads](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/duke-university/637089-regular-decision-apps-take-look.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/duke-university/637089-regular-decision-apps-take-look.html&lt;/a&gt;) in which selective colleges report [increases](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/dartmouth-college/637212-record-number-apps.html”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/dartmouth-college/637212-record-number-apps.html&lt;/a&gt;) in the numbers of applicants, and wondering what this means in terms of the difficulty of admission this year. There are three possibilities:</p>

<p>(1) An increase in the number of highly qualified applicants (thus harder)
(2) No change in the number of highly qualified applicants, rather an increase in less qualified applicants (not harder)
(3) Applicants are not increased, the same number are just applying to more colleges (not harder).</p>

<p>The only way to compare applicant pools between years is the SAT. Grades can’t be used, for there is always a top 10% of a HS class.</p>

<p>So, I looked at the College Board data for [2003[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools]2006[/url</a>], [url=<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools]2007[/url</a>], and [url=<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/profdownload/Total_Group_Report.pdf]2008[/url”>Higher Education Professionals | College Board]2008[/url</a>]. I made a table (which I don’t think I can post on this site, so I posted it on a blog site [url=<a href=“http://plutarch01.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/]here[/url”>http://plutarch01.■■■■■■■■■■■■■/]here[/url</a>]. ) The findings:</p>

<p>—The number of 750-800 Critical Reading scores have been stable every year. From 2003 to 2008, there was a slight decrease, from 25,114 to 24,569.</p>

<p>—The number of 750-800 Writing scores from 2006 to 2008 have increased 26%, from 17,510 to 22,035.</p>

<p>—The number of 750-800 Math scores from 2006-2008 have increased 23.4%, from 32,800 to 40,466. In 2003 there were 30,440, a 32.9% increase.</p>

<p>So what does this mean? The highly qualifed applicant pool, as measured by the composite CR/M/W SAT, has become larger in the last several years. This increase has been entirely in the Math and Writing sections.</p>

<p>According to Hernandez book [url=<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446674060/redirect-home/aisforadmisherna]A”>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446674060/redirect-home/aisforadmisherna]A</a> Is for Admission (1999)](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools), a top CR score has always been more highly valued than Math. With Math and W score inflation in recent years, the stable numbers of high CR scores must have further increased CR’s relative importance, as Adcoms are relatively awash in applications with high M and W scores, but a high CR score today is just as rare as it was in 2003.</p>

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<p>I hate the SATs CR. I find it to be extremely one-track.</p>

<p>I got a 660 on SAT CR, but a 35 on ACT CR o_o. </p>

<p>I think the steadiness is only due to how random the test is on CR whereas the test can’t expect more than one variation of a math response.</p>

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<p>Does that mean that my score of 2250 (breakdown 800CR, 740M, 710W, essay 9) is worth more than a score of 2250 (700CR, 800M, 750W)?</p>

<p>With the former score of 2250 is it worth breaking 2300?</p>

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<p>^I hope so. I’m so much better at CR.</p>

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<p>woot 800 CR :)</p>

<p>i think this is because math/SATwriting is more teachable than CR, which usually comes from longterm reading skills, and with the increase of pressure on good SAT schools more kids are taking classes/being tutored which helps most with math/writing but doesnt usually significantly increase CR. you can learn tricks and quick concepts to boost a math/writing score but CR relies largely on reasoning skills that are developed over years.</p>

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<p>Heh.</p>

<p>You can teach kids how to do math and how to apply the rules of English grammar, but you can’t teach 'em how to read.</p>

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<p>so… this make a CR high scorer somewhat of a commodity now. i got a 690 CR but a 800 and 760 math and writing. yes CR is hard in that you cannot “prepare” for it. kind of discriminates against people who grow up in a less educated environment.</p>

<p>EDIT: ^AGREED</p>

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<p>also note that CR scores btw 750-800 are LESS than those of the writing ones between 750-800.</p>

<p>and yes everyone gets 750+ on math is seems</p>

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<p>…thank god for the ACTs! :)</p>

<p>650 CR. </p>

<p>36 reading, 35 english</p>

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<p>^Amen 10char</p>

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<p>

On the East Coast ACTs are for people who arent smart enough to do well on the SATs. The ACT doesnt even test grammar properly (dont they use slang terms and stuff?)</p>

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<p>^^
For locations other than the East, the ACT is for students who do not wish to further enrich College Board.</p>

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<p>ivy adcoms are made up of recent grads, who most likely don’t respect the ACT because 80% of them submitted the SAT. these kids get bad SAT scores, and then naturally ace the ACT because it’s designed to be taken in the flyover states where there are zero educational standards, and then act like they beat the system.</p>

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<p>Yeah, Choklitrain, I always wondered how admissions people factored that.</p>

<p>Like if you bomb the SAT but do really well on the ACT. To me, that shows you’re better in some ways of thinking but do horribly in others. Like someone else said, if I were an adcom, I would think that these people are somewhat cheating the system. (Though, I know you have to still be pretty intelligent to do well on the ACT) There’s just no consistency. </p>

<p>I may not be the smartest person, but I can do moderately well (average compared to CCers) on either test and my scores are basically equivalent to each other [700 CR 710 M 32ACT]. I like to think that shows consistency.</p>

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<p>^^ tr00f see my post above</p>

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<p>But I guess people will continue to do it if they can get away with it.</p>

<p>Anyway, I think the CR on the SAT IS the most important section. Yes, it’s my lowest scoring section, but it shows that you can use your mind, and not your memory of how to do problems.</p>

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<p>^ true my lowest section as well. but i think its the most accurate measure. math anmd writing measure applications. i can teach anyone to get a 10 on the essay by following a 5 paragrph template and grammar is just memorizing. math is just understanding 20 or so rules</p>

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<p>Well, then, I don’t know if I’m screwed or good… if math is supposedly the easiest section, but I just suck at it… couldn’t break a 660. But CR, I got a 760 which I’m totally happy with.</p>

<p>If I were an adcom, I’d probably be a bit biased and favor the SAT, only because it shows aptitude - the ability to learn in the future, like a college environment. The ACT shows achievement - like what you’ve already learned - but the colleges already have that in your transcript and GPA.</p>

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<p>The essay doesn’t even really matter that much. My friend got a 760 by getting only a few MC wrong and an 8 on the essay. I got a 12 on the essay and missed about 9 MC and ended up with a 770.</p>

<p>Though, I’m not saying the math one is overall easy. It’s just easy if you can go fast without making ANY dumb mistakes. And if you miss even around 2, you’re at a 700ish. I fumble under pressure, I guess.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I know they say they view the ACT and SAT equally, but I really wish (and sometimes think) they favor the SAT slightly.</p>