<p>Does the SAT curve change over time? If so, why would the curve be different? For example, missing 12 CR questions might be a 680 on one test but only a 630 on another. Would this have anything to do with the population taking the test?</p>
<p>The curve is different for each test. It does have something to do with the who is taking it each time.</p>
<p>Vegan- curve doesn't have anything to do with who is taking it each time; it is pre-determined.</p>
<p>So then how can there be a curve when it's not based on the people taking the actual test? Are they basing it on the people who took the sections that are thrown out on previous tests?</p>
<p>nooo dude. Whoever told you that the curve is dependent upon the ppl taking it is wrong. It doesn't matter if 96% of the test-takers for a certain test date are idiots; the curve for each test is pre-determined according to the level of difficulty of each section.</p>
<p>Each of you is kind of half-right.
The score grid (raw to scaled score conversion) does vary a bit from test to test.
However, it is not a "curve", that is, not "dependent on the people taking it".
But it's also not pre-determined.
Some peoples' unscored section is used to test new questions. Other people are actually given a scored section from a previously administered, undisclosed (non-QAS) test form. This equating section is used to determine how difficult the current test form is, by comparing how the sample at each scoring level does vs. the population who took the section when it was actually scored. Then, the score grid for the current one is created, and it adjusts for the difficulty of the test at each raw score point (it creates a little polygonal curve, if you graph it).
For you, this just means that which version you take of the test is irrelevant. If the test is easier or harder, the score grid adjusts for that.
However, be careful not to spend 5 minutes on some really hard question unless you've already done all the others....that's one way in which a harder test could really nail you.
On the other hand, if you seem to be fairly zipping through everything, be extra careful. It's very easy to fall for traps and not realize it on later questions. Also, if the test turns out to be easier than planned, you will need to make very few errors to get a high scaled score.
I bet you didn't also know that the 200-800 range is chopped off.
In fact, you can get scores as low as 0 and as high as close to 1100 depends on the test form which is the actual ceiling.
But only 200 to 800 is reported, so you'll never know your real score.
Anyone care to guess why it's on a 200 to 800 scale?
Answers to come in a future installment.</p>
<p>I see the other threads about this were locked with no explaination but I found this thread with another explanation that wasn't discussed.</p>
<p>yup remember seein this one... makes a lotta sense..
isnt it funny how all of us r so worried bout the curvve..
i mean i look at myself n i think why the hell am i so caught up with the curve if i do my best i shudnt worry about anything else...</p>
<p>==paki== .. diffculty can b relative at times.. wt u might difficult; i might find easy so i too belive that it depends on the abilities of the test takers.. an overall good perfomance can creata a very steep curve and a poor perfomance can creata a lenient curve..</p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://www.collegeboard.com/highered/ra/sat/sat_scorefaq.html#rea1%5B/url%5D">http://www.collegeboard.com/highered/ra/sat/sat_scorefaq.html#rea1</a></p>
<p>SAT Reasoning Test: How is the SAT scored?</p>
<p>Scoring is a two-step process. First, a raw score is calculated: one point is added for each multiple-choice question answered correctly. Omitted questions receive no points. For multiple-choice questions answered incorrectly, 1/4 point is subtracted. No points are subtracted for incorrect answers to the SAT math questions requiring student-produced responses. Questions in the SAT equating section do not count toward the score. Then, the total points answered wrong are subtracted from the number answered correctly. If the resulting score is a fraction, it is rounded to the nearest whole number -- 1/2 or more is rounded up; less than 1/2 is rounded down.</p>
<p>Next, the raw score is converted to the College Board 200-to-800 scaled score by a statistical process called equating. *Equating adjusts for slight differences in difficulty between test editions, and ensures that a student's score on one edition of a test reflects the same ability as a score of 450 on another edition of the test and that a student's score does not depend on how well others did on the same edition of the test. *</p>
<p>@montrose9272 what is the answer ?</p>