<p>@dadx, “the data presented show modest gains in retesting, inversely related to the level of the first scores.”
Yes, the average gains are modest. Here’s some info from last year: <a href=“http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/SAT-Percentile-Student-Senior-Year-Score-Gain-Loss-2013.pdf”>http://media.collegeboard.com/digitalServices/pdf/research/SAT-Percentile-Student-Senior-Year-Score-Gain-Loss-2013.pdf</a>
I don’t think much has changed, but this is the current information.</p>
<p>Consider a typical college-bound honor student with scores in the 630-670 range. Composite score is something around 1950, 91st percentile. Such a kid may have quite a bit to gain in scholarships and admittances to selective schools by improving the score. The averages, though, say that they will gain 3 in CR, 2 in math, and lose 5 in writing. On average, no net gain. But 20% of them will gain 50 or more points in CR. 15% will gain 50 or more points in math. And 18% of them will gain 50+ points in writing. The fact that nearly the same number will experience comparable score losses makes me think that you can’t attribute all those gains to greater proficiency. Take the test again and you have a very reasonable chance of at least a 50 point score bump in your superscore. And if you’re not one of the lucky ones, just pay college board not to tell the schools about that incident, and roll the dice again. According to the college board “SAT verbal and math scores must differ by 60 points (40 × 1.5) in order to indicate true differences of ability.” So, the college board thinks you could get to 2100 without actually improving your ability.</p>