Curve and Curve///

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>it seems for me as a useless think--to talk about the curve. My school has done a research, and also joined this research. We found out from all of the school who took the SAT probably starting from October last year till May that it seems : </p>

<p>1st the curve is pre determined, why . . . since, no matter how the test, wheter it is easier harder or even mediocre, the curve remains really the same. </p>

<p>take an example: </p>

<p>on January people say that the Math is the easiest, the CR is also the easiest, whereas the May most of students vote that it is the hardest. However, .. the curve is definitely the same... = = basically it only different slightly 10pnts. however, i would also conclude that the Writing.. is harsh.. as we have been told that the CB blue book remains the standard that we always hold, it never turns the same. In blue book the writing scale is very mild.. indeed too mild!. in math sometimes you can expect have more 10-20 pnts or just have the same score as the book, but the CR remain as the same. Based on what we have done, we conclude that whatever the test will be, easy or not, the curve is something mysterious. But it is not something too discreet, i just have to give some hints.</p>

<p>while practicing makes sure you just score your essay better 2-3/6, then you will get lower writing, it seems very brutal but this is better. </p>

<p>aim for higher math, since the curve sometimes fluctuate when u can answer more. in my research , e,g, october, the math seems higher for people can get 700. so aim high for math</p>

<p>when you get CR just lower it 20 pts. </p>

<p>In the end all i cut say is that, practice and then when you scaled the score you just lower it 50 pts. curve is a nasty thing but i think u don't have to expect the curve, many students, e.g. who gets raw score of 53 in math and the scale is 780-790, usually get the same in the real test, if they get the same raw.. so don't discuss curve too many... ahhaha</p>

2

<p>I've heard both: that the October test is the most difficult because seniors are getting higher scores as it is one of their last opportunities, but also that curves are predetermined so it doesn't matter.</p>

<p>Which is true? Or is this unknown?</p>

3

<p>So it is easier to get a high score on math in October?</p>

4

<p>


</p>

<p>There is no "curve" on the SAT's thought people love to talk about the curve as being "hard" or "easy"</p>

<p>So what are people talking about?
1. Those who say the tests are "curved before" being given are misinterpreting the process of assembling the test. All the test items are pretested and are given a difficulty rating based on their performance in pretesting. Every test form is assembled to have the same average difficulty as every other test form.</p>

<ol>
<li> Those who say the tests are "curved after" being given are misinterpreting the process of equating and scaling. After the administration of a test form, the average raw score may be higher or lower that other administrations. This is probably due to one of two reasons:
[indent]- The test form is harder or easier than other forms, despite the pretesting.</li>
<li>The testing population is stronger or weaker than previous testing populations.
Equating is the process of determining the relative strength of the current test-taking population. Based on the equating results, a scale of scores is generated and the raw scores are assigned scaled scores of 200 to 800. [/indent]</li>
</ol>

<p>The goal is to make the scores equally difficult to achieve, no matter how "easy" or "hard" an individual form may be. A 780 should be equally difficult (or easy for a CCer) to achieve in October, January or May. </p>

<p>Of course, the first response to this will probably be someone who now thinks the test is "curved" twice :)</p>

5

<p>Thanks. That is probably the most intelligent response about "curves" I've ever gotten.</p>