Wed PSAT vs Oct 1 SAT?

fignewton
Sat, 22 Oct 2011 19:17:07 +0000

Schokolade:

However, even if the “PSAT times 10” approach gives an accurate estimate of someone’s ultimate SAT score, that doesn’t mean that a student’s October SAT score can predict his October PSAT score.



The PSAT-score-times-10 estimate is accurate assuming that no other preparation, learning, and so forth occurs, so you’re right, it is less useful as a predictor of a student’s ultimate SAT scores. Generally people do improve from the PSAT to the SAT since time passes, they have more school, they prepare more for the test, etc. (Though I have to admit, 40 points combined isn’t a large increase.)

I assumed that a student wouldn’t assimilate too much between the October SAT and the PSAT.

You’re right, that CB percentile wording is awful. The “student” portion of the web site says it more clearly:



Percentiles are based on the most recent scores earned by students in the previous year’s graduating class who took the SAT during high school.



And on the actual score report received by students:



The percentile for your mathematics score of 650 is 85. You scored higher than 85% of last year’s graduating class of students who took the SAT.



Hopefully you will find warmth in this tiny nugget of truth. And good luck to your son!