<p>I talked to several of my friends; and one got a 790 by missing one, another a 770 or 780 by missing two. However, I took the SAT in October, and scored a 750 on my Math section because I missed two. Is this correct? I think I should have received a higher score than this. Thanks!</p>
<p>It’s curved depending on how hard the test is.</p>
<p>Last year’s October test was the same: miss two on math, 750.</p>
<p>max is correct. Each test version has a “hardness” factor, and that equates to scaling. For example, one version might have 7 Alg II problems while another might have 5. One test might have the classic rate-speed-time problem (“A train leaves Chicago…”) while another does not.</p>
<p>Yes Math had a tough curve this October. S missed 1 and got a 770, so missing 2 and getting 750 is consistent. Even before results were available, the consensus of many of the posters on this board was that the October Math section was easy; thus, the hard curve.</p>
<p>This is kind of ridiculous, given that much of the people with mid/high 700s generally missed 1-2 questions through misinterpretation of any question on the exam, not because those 1-2 questions were particularly difficult.</p>
<p>Oh ok. Thanks!</p>
<p>That’s why part of it is luck. I think that most of the time when people only miss a few questions on the SAT, it’s not because they couldn’t do the question, but because they misread it or got tired and made a careless mistake.</p>
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<p>Actually, no, it’s consistent. Most versions of the test are miss 1 = 770. That’s just the way it is designed.</p>
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<p>(Critically) Think about it: NONE of the questions are particularly difficult. 95% of them are basic Alg I and Geometry, which a lot of kids take in middle school. The SAT gets its distribution based on the fact that, of the 1.5 million kids who take the test, some will “misinterpret”, and of course time/speed. (Which is also why adcoms really don’t distinguish between a 750 and an 800.)</p>
<p>^Most of the tests are 780-790 for a raw score of 53 (-1), at least on the basis of Jan, May, and Oct tests since 2005.</p>
<p>yepp that seems right</p>
<p>What’s really ridiculous is the occasional test where one wrong still gets you 800.</p>
<p>If none of the questions are particularly difficult, how does slightly increasing/decreasing the difficulty of a few questions on the math section justify as more lenient/harsher curve for the highest tier of scorers? I understand the purpose of the curve applied to other score ranges, but it makes no sense to apply the curve to this group because they are missing the same number of questions regardless of the difficulty of the section. While it’s a nice thought that colleges aren’t distinguishing between a 750 and an 800, admissions statistics at schools like Caltech and Wharton (and the fact that scholarship programs at hundreds of schools in the nation are often based on formulas derived from scores) suggest otherwise.</p>
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<p>And some people still think the SAT actually tests for mathematical ability. I think not.</p>
<p>Another reason to take the ACT instead.</p>
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<p>Or, to put it in a different light, this supports the idea that anybody (provided they’ve had algebra/geometry) can score 700+ with proper preparation.</p>
<p>It does test math ability. It just relies too much on curve and not enough on ability to distinguish between scores in the 700+ tier.</p>
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<p>It tests how well you can read fine print. Maybe that’s a useful skill for college you know. Gotta read that small print whenever you buy stuff and what not. Good thing the SAT is keeping us safe.</p>
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<p>That is NOT its purpose. Other programs such as math competitions perform that function very effectively, not to mention the Math 2 subject test. The SAT & ACT are designed for “average” high school seniors who aspire to college, not to differentiate the “gifted” from the “highly gifted” from the future “einsteinians” of the world.</p>
<p>Check around, there are several discussions on cc about this topic.</p>
<p>The Adcoms all know this. If you got a 750 or 770 or 800, they know you are pretty good at math. They have already moved onto you CR score, class rank, ECs and essay. You are stuck on the Math SAT! Dude, this is a beautiful forest, forget about that tree!</p>
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<p>One of the better lines I have seen on cc. Very nice!</p>