Is the SAT scored on a curve?

Test Preparation
1

<p>Is the SAT scored on a curve or is the scale determined before the test is given?
I know people giving advice as to the best months to take the test based on the "curve" theory, but I was under the assumption that scale is determined ahead of time.
Thanks</p>

2

<p>It is, but the scale is determined by the equating sections from previous tests which are curved. College Board has a system; it's curved. Don't worry about how they do it.</p>

<p>:)</p>

3

<p>HiWei, are you saying it is determined ahead of time OR it's not determined ahead of time and it matters who else is taking that particular test?
Thanks</p>

4

<p>I believe it is determined ahead of time.</p>

<p>:)</p>

5

<p>nice.. takes a little bit of pressure of the student</p>

6

<p>what tests generally have the 'easiest' curve (what month), the hardest?</p>

7

<p>The way I understand the SAT scoring is you can miss 2/3 crit. read. questions and still get an 800 (one of my friends did) and 1 math (depending on type) and get an 800. As for the new writing section I'm not sure. So it doesn't matter which month or test you take; and if it does, there's no way of knowing.</p>

8

<p>The curve, or more precisely, raw score to scaled score conversion is predetermined. However it changes in accordance with the difficulty of each test. The month, and who else takes it when you take it does NOT matter.</p>

9

<p>oreally? i heard like it was harder in december because that was the last one for college apps so a lot of people take it</p>

10

<p>That is a completely inaccurate rumor.</p>

11

<p>"and 1 math (depending on type) and get an 800"</p>

<p>Ok, when you miss a question, it doesn't matter what "type" it was whether it was easy, medium, or difficult; if you missed one, thats one wrong. (<=period). The only way two people who missed the same number of questions had different scaled scores is if they had different tests (I think there are 3 different ones every testing) that each had different curves. </p>

<p>:)</p>

12

<p>when i said type i meant multiple choice or grid in, b/c that does matter to your score</p>

13

<p>Oh, Ok.</p>

<p>:)</p>

14

<p>the type doesn't matter if you're only missing one question...it only starts to matter when you miss three or more. </p>

<h1>wrong : raw points off for MC : raw points off for grid in</h1>

<p>1 : 1.25 : 1
2 : 2.5 : 2
3 : 3.75 : 3</p>

<p>Since the raw score is rounded up, -2.5 raw points is just like -2 points, so it doesn't really matter if it's MC or Grid in if you only miss one or two.</p>

15

<p>so if someone had a 69.5 and somebody else had a 70.25, they would both receive the same score? seems harsh on the 70.25 guy...</p>