<p>soumanyon, do you know how they determine cut off scores?
Because for my school, and Thomas Jefferson High School in the north, you'd think there would be a difference, right? Because my school struggles to get accredited, while almost everyone from TJ leaves to an ivy league when they graduate. The entire region I live in is pretty unmotivated, making the common score kinda low. I didn't really get your point, what I'm saying is that schools up there have much better teachers, resources, expected to do better etc etc so they're bound to do better, so maybe they should be subjected to a different cut off score . . do you see what i mean? Or are you saying because there is no motivation here, despite lack of resources/funding, cut off scores should be the same?</p>
<p>Cut off scores are determined proportionately per state for semifi. For commended, it's the same for the entire country. 202 last year, I think. States vary a lot with some near 205ish (like Alaska) and some going up to 222 (NJ, NY, and MA). Look around, I think a link to a website with those cutoffs is somewhere in this forum and they only vary a couple points a year.</p>
<p>PSATs are notoriously unfair. If you google it, you should be able to come upon a UC declaration about how much they suck and that'll explain it better than I can. The main point of that is basically yours, that better, often richer school districts have a huge advantage. So PSATs are disproportionately given out between income levels.</p>
<p>My point was that better school districts don't necessarily score better. They should with the better resources, teachers, etc, but if you have rich brats like at my school, they don't care about their scores because they don't care about the tiny monetary incentive. This evens out the table a little but not enough to make it fair. But life isn't fair, is it? </p>
<p>By the same logic, if you've got the money to be in a school district with good teachers, tons of AP classes, and money to buy prep books, you're going to have a huge advantage on other standardized tests like SAT/ACTs, too and go to better schools than the disadvantaged who'll have to stay in their disadvantaged lifestyles for lack of a way out.</p>
<p>It's a cultural/economic catch-22. One of those times where you say, "Gee whiz, sometimes life can truly suck."</p>
<p>At least you guys have a chance, I'm Canadian so there's no way I can even get commended...</p>
<p>About the regions thing, it's a good idea, but that just makes things tedious and it's impossible to achieve fairness for all when you're basing everything on that one score. For example there's a huge divide within the city that I live in, where one side of the city (the richer side) has way better schools than the other side. It would be silly to divide up cities but you would have to go to that extent just to achieve a decent level of fairness for everyone.</p>
<p>jasonng: actually, that's not necessarily true. I'm Canadian, took the PSATs last year. Currently I'm working my way up the ladder, got past commended and I'm at semifi right now, waiting on finalist decisions which I'm fairly confident of.</p>
<p>It depends if you live in the US and either have or are applying for permanent citizenship.</p>
<p>Yeah canadians can be naitonal merit....you just have to score fairly high....222 or 223 I think.</p>
<p>what was the question about a woman and her brother's children?</p>
<p>guys, i want to say here is a psat thread.
talk about this psat please.</p>
<p>It seems as though some posts have been deleted....</p>
<p>i know, its weird</p>
<p>Any curve predictions? What do you think a -2 on CR is this year?</p>
<p>-2 = 1 wrong and 1 omit?</p>
<p>-2 = 2 wrong. Actually, it doesn't matter, 'cause it'd round up anyways.</p>
<p>My Guess for CR:</p>
<p>80
80
78
76
74
73
71</p>
<p>M:
80
77
74
72
71</p>
<p>W:
80
80
78
76
74
72</p>
<p>Someone tell me if they think different and why</p>
<p>i think the curve will be near real. good job.</p>
<p>Math and Writing seem right to me.</p>
<p>The CR looks a bit optimistic, though. It seemed much easier to me. A lot more straightforward than in the past. Do you really think 80 80 78? I'd like to think that, also, tell me why you think so.</p>
<p>Well...ok...I think that many people would be particularly stumped by SC and would have had trouble on tricky questions...</p>
<p>Or maybe this?:</p>
<p>80
79
77
75
73
72
70</p>
<p>Yeah, that looks right, but the harder SC's might push it to the 80 80 78. I hope so.</p>
<p>agree at new Cr curve.</p>
<p>could you extrapolate a little further on the math? do you think 3 wrong 1 omit would be a 69?</p>
<p>Yeah, probably a 69.</p>
<p>Do you all remember this writing question:</p>
<p>Swimmers rub grease all over their bodies not to keep themselves warm, <em>this is the commmon belief</em>, but to reduce friction.</p>
<p>the 2 good answer choices were:</p>
<p><em>as is commonly believed</em>
<em>despite a common belief</em></p>
<p>Which one did you all put? Have any justification for why one is better than the other?</p>