OK: PSAT thoughts here. Late to the party as usual, but around posts #3008 or so people were talking about the harsh PSAT curves on Oct 24 date.
S20s scores were 10 points less than last year, so i didn’t even really look at it all; he was disappointed. But today i was looking at it, and I’m frustrated! He missed way less questions than last year; yet his score went down. He missed 2 in the math section - and the Oct 24 gave him a 670 in math as compared to missing 2 = 740 on Oct 10. I am going to be curious how many national merit scholars come from the oct 24 test. Anyone really understand these tests? any thoughts you can share?
@bgbg4us My daughter didn’t take the PSAT this year, but all standardized testing operates much the same. Every test and body of test takers is unique. Perhaps the math section of this particular test was fairly straightforward and a large majority of students missed one or none. If you truly think it’s been incorrectly processed, I believe there is a protocol for that. If you were looking for merit, sorry. If you’re looking for data, his scores could be helpful in preparing for the SAT, or directing him to the ACT instead.
@bgbg4us My guess is that it will have a big impact on the test takers from 10/24. Our school has 20 NMSF for 2019. I would bet we will have 10 or less next year due to the 10/24 test. We know several kids who we would have expected to hit the cut off based on the sophomore PSAT scores that ended up missing it this year due to the harsh curve.
The problem is that so few kids took it on 10/24 that it likely won’t affect the state cut offs, it will just affect the schools and kids who took it on that date.
So our school will likely see a big one year drop off, but I doubt our state cut off will change much if at all.
The selection index for each state is done after all the scores are in. That’s where the top % comes into play.
Those are two separate things.
College Board knew before the kids took the 10/24 test that there were issues with it.
In the high cut off states, missing one question from each section (one math and one English) is enough to knock you out of NMSF range. That’s insane.
Just for reference-
10/10 test date- miss one M, one R, and one W- you end up with a selection index of 225
(Congratulations- you are an NMSF in every state!)
10/24 test date- miss one M, one reading, and one writing- selection index of 211
(Sorry, you likely won’t even get Commended)
I understand the 10/24 test was easier, but giving a test with a curve that required near perfection was a mistake, IMO.
I’ve been lurking here for awhile; can’t resist a good PSAT bashing, though! I agree with @brentwoodmom, rather make the exam a bit too difficult than a bit too easy.
I have a D20 and while we will not be full pay everywhere, our EFC is above what we can afford, so D20 is chasing merit. She studied all summer and was able to get the SI she needed. S17 did not, so I have a lot of sympathy for kids who don’t make it. I don’t believe the PSAT is a good way to try to distinguish between the top 0.5% and the top 2%.
I wonder whether this “phenomenon” of easing up standardized testing is true, and if it is, why does CB want to do that? A harder test might be better at separating test-takers while at the same time be more forgiven for careless mistakes, no?
What I meant was, I will be very surprised if the percentage of students who make NMSF from the 10/24 date varies wildly from the percentage who took it on other dates. Top 3% for commended, top 1% (aprox) for NMSF.
If 100,000 students took the Oct 24 test, we should expect to see about 1000 of them make NMSF.
@SoccaMomma How do I find the Niche map tool? I’ve used the site for rankings but haven’t seen a map? I’m from ME planning on looking at some schools down south with my daughter so that sounds helpful.
@lkg4answers I’ll post a link to a Princeton Review article.
They say that CB predetermines the equating (or curve) before the test is given based on how hard the test is. Which would be fine for small variations, but when there is a 50 point loss for one question due to the equating, they should probably just throw out that test. It’s too much of an outlier.
@mamawitch On the niche site I went to college search and a green “Map” icon is there. I just tried it on my iOS phone but it also worked on my iPad. Good luck.
Scheduled general tours and department tours that DS is interested in for Spring Break today. Starting to get excited about it (I am anyway; he’s studying for midterms). Will be a very busy few days in Boston.
Question for the group: what is your opinion on letting a freshman have a car on campus? I understand it could vary based on setting such as rural vs urban and other variables.
My DS18 does have his car on campus. I like that he has one from a convenience standpoint. although I question whether the cost of ownership is worth it, given that most days it just sits in a parking lot.
He lives on campus, in our situation I drive past his school in my daily commute every day.
Some of his friends don’t have a car, and he ends up being the driver for the group a lot of times. Nice for them :).
Currently he is paying for gas and maintenance, but I’m still paying the insurance.
My S18 didn’t take his car. School is 3 hours from home, and he doesn’t seem to have trouble finding rides, or taking the train. He lives on campus so he doesn’t need it while he’s there.
Lots of colleges do not allow freshmen to have cars. Some that do have parking that is so remote that the car is used rarely. We set the rule early on that there would be no car freshmen year. We did not want a car to be a factor in which school DS16 chose. We also wanted him very involved on campus and we think a car lessens that involvement. DS16 did not take a car to campus until after Thanksgiving sophomore year. Our deal was he had to have enough saved to cover his share of costs for the school year (insurance, gas, parking pass, car payments, etc)