<p>I took the October SAT and got a 2290: CR 760, M 800, W 730 (71/10),
which is a decent score. Looking at the curves reported by other CC'ers, I can see that
missing 3 on CR this time around was 760 but missing 2 was 800.
For writing, missing 3 was 71 and missing 2 was 76.
So it looks like if I had missed two less MC questions I would have had 800/800/770 (76/10) =2370.</p>
<p>So my question is, in the upper-ranges of SAT scores, does the 80 points between 2370 and 2290 really matter? It's only 2 two questions and is definitely within margin of error statistically.
Do colleges consider this? Because the culture on CC makes it seem that there is a WORLD of difference between upper 2300s and upper 2200s, when it can just be, in actuality, a 2-question difference. Is there actually any real differentiation between these scores?</p>
<p>A “DECENT” SCORE! Really…? You’re saying a 2290 is decent? Once you hit around 2200 you have a chance at getting into every single school in the World, essentially. The 25% for SAT at Harvard is 690CR, 700M, 690W, which is a 2080 and the 75% is 790, 800, 790 which is 2380. That means that you are 210 above Harvard’s 25% and 90 below the 75%.</p>
<p>Top schools have plenty of 2400, 4.0 kids turned away, and plenty of 2200, 3.8 kids that get in. So my answer is, yes they realize they aren’t the different, and to tell the truth, the standardized tests are secondary, at least, to GPA and rigor, if not to EC’s and other things. However, there is A differentiation. Two kids with the exact same everything, except one has 2290 and one has 2400, they would be more likely to take the kid with the 2400.</p>
<p>My point was to discuss whether SAT really matters all that much after you hit a fairly high score. If only a couple of questions are the difference among the scores in the range, then shouldn’t they be grouped together.
For some colleges, their admitted 50%-100% would fall under this range, and be considered the “same score”. So if colleges know this, is this proof/reasoning that SAT scores don’t matter?</p>
<p>After recovering from my initial disappointed (OH MY GOD WHY DIDNT I BOTHER TO MEMORIZE GRAMMAR RULES) ahemmm… Anyways. It’s generally accepted that a 2350 to a 2400 don’t make any difference besides some bragging rights. A 2300+ is usually considered good enough for any college. Your 2290 should be fine. Just chill.</p>
<p>To get real data on this, go to the SAT website and download their detailed statistical reports. Specifically: yes, there is a slight statistical difference between the 2290 and the 2370.</p>
<p>They will tell you that your expected range if you re-take can vary a little bit, but 80 is wider than that range. Obviously, even one miss at this level can affect your score, it depends. Be aware that not all questions have the same weight; some might have zero weight because they’re “experimental”, meaning they’re collecting data on the question, not using them to score.</p>
<p>However, I agree with the folks above: 2290 puts you in an elite group, where the difference in score isn’t likely to be relevant. What will matter at this point is your grades, strength of curriculum, AP & subject scores, essays, etc. And of course a huge dollop of randomness.</p>