<p>I just recently started studying for the SAT (taking in May.. hopefully getting a good score) and I never knew that the SAT's have a curve. Could someone please explain it to me?</p>
<p>I believe it has something to do with the difficulty of the test. If the test is more difficult than usual, the curve is more generous. It might also have something to do with the percentiles also. for example, say 1% of test takers get 800s on a section, so the curve accounts for the difficulty of each individual test and makes sure 1% get 800s. I'm not totally sure though...</p>
<p>Let's say the math portion of SAT is extremely easy and like 20% of people taking it get only 0 - 2 wrong. Then the curve will be more harsh too limit the people who get 800. So 0 wrong = 800, 1 wrong = 770 and 2 wrong = 730
But if the least anyone got wrong was 2 questions and no one had a perfect paper and 2-3 wrong would be the 800 mark.
It depends on the difficulty of the test, but usually you can get 0 - 3 wrong and get 800</p>
<p>"The curve" refers to the correlation between your raw score (questions you get right minus one forth of those you got wrong) to your scaled score out of 800. It's not as if there is a standard correlation which is "curved," though. It changes every time depending on the difficulty of the test and how well other people preformed--like people here have said, the percentiles.</p>
<p>In theory, it shouldn't matter what the particular curve is of your test, since a hard test should have a more lenient scale. However, especially for those who are scoring high above average, a hard test is better than a harsh scale. </p>
<p>I'd say the average scale for Math is 800-790-760-730-710, for CR 800-800-800-800-780, and for WR (12E) 800-800-800-780-760.</p>
<p>Thanks guys... though I'm not sure I completely understand. So basically there will always be a set number of people who get 800's and then the scoring goes on based on this? Or..?</p>
<p>No, there is never a set number, but it is usualy around a certain number. On the math though, the only way to get a perfect score is to get every single one right, or maybe just get everyone right but leave one blank. Here is an official curve though, but I can tell you that I got an 800 CR and missed one, and a 760 math and missed two.</p>
<p>Okay, I understand it better now..</p>
<p>The curve accounts only for the difficulty of the test. No adjustments are made so as to, for example, ensure that a particular percentage of people get an 800. This is why you do not have to worry that a bunch of very smart people taking the same test you are will "push down" your score.</p>
<p>The CB has every reason NOT to try to adjust percentiles. Why? A score of 750, say, would mean one thing on one test, and a different thing on another.</p>
<p>WAIT so, does this mean, since EVERYONE is studying over the summer, the curve is going to be hella harsh in october??</p>
<p>usually people find the oct to be harsher
i don't know if it's because people study more or just CB expects you to study over the summer</p>
<p>What about the May test?</p>