<p>I have been reading some of the "chances" posts and have to ask, what I hope is a simple question. A student reported that she was a NMS Commended Scholar PSAT of 1320. How can this be when the PSAT scores only 80 on each of three subtests with a total of 240? I've seen these odd reportings over and over? What do they really mean?</p>
<p>I think they take their verbal and math scores, such as a 65 verbal and 67 math, add them together, 132, and add a zero so the score is the same as an SAT I score.</p>
<p>Then, my second thought is that the standard for commended students is pretty low if a student with a "1320" is being commended. Also, I thought that the commended, semifinalist, finalist status was based on ALL THREE subtests, not just two. Does that make sense to any of you?</p>
<p>Thumper:
To get Commended status, a student has to have 200 or above on PSAT out of a maximum of 240. To get to semi-finalist status, a student has to reach a cut-off score that varies depending on each state. The highest cut-off scores are for MD, DC, MA and overseas: 222. Theoretically, therefore, a student could get Commended for scores of 67,63,70 or some similar combination. Translating the above PSATs into putative SAT scores, a student could get Commended status and SAT scores of 1300 (67+63x10) or 1330(63+70x10), or 1370 (67+70x10). It depends how the score of 200 was arrived at.</p>
<p>Marite, thank you and I understand what you are saying. What I DON'T understand is why folks feel the need to translate their PSAT scores X10 into SAT like scores. I find it misleading especially when for many the PSAT projection isn't the same as what they achieve on the SAT anyway. Why not just report PSAT scores as they are reported!!??</p>
<p>Hmmm.
I suspect it's because PSATs don't matter in admission (though they matter for scholarships and semi-finalist or finalist status may give a boost in admission at some colleges). So students use PSATS to project their actual SAT scores.
My S's SATs were pretty much in line with his PSAT scores. He went up 20 points in one (SATs were taken in March). His SAT-II Writing was the same as his PSAT Writing portion.</p>
<p>Marite, although commended was 200 last year, my understanding is that number is also always subject to revision or scaling, if you prefer. I have seen at least one year where it was 201 or did my eyes deceive me yet again?</p>
<p>And to thumper1. I don't believe there is any rational explanation for why a PSAT "score" of 1320 is posted. It is theoretically possible and statistically probable that there are 2 students out there, one scoring a 48,72,80 (don't chuckle, a friend's U.S. educated son from a college preparatory school recently received a 480,720 on his first SAT) and receiving commended status while the other student who scores a 70,70,58 does not.</p>
<p>It's possible that the Commended score gets rescaled, though perhaps not quite as often as the cut-offs for semi-finalists. It was 200 last year, this year and back in 1998 when S#1 took it.
Commended status has little to do with eventual SAT scores, as your examples show. But someone with 70V, 70 M and 58 W would plauisbly get 700 on the SAT V and SAT M (i.e., 1400), but only 580 on the SAT II Writing, unless the student did a lot of prepping for the latter.</p>
<p>I don't really see the issue: students with PSAT scores add a 0 to put it in SAT terms. In the days of the old SAT they just used M+V; for the new, they add a O to all 3. I remember a thread about how good a predictor the PSAT is, and I think the drift was, pretty good, but not in every case.</p>
<p>I agree, when they drop the writing and X10, they are alluding to where they think they'll stand on their SAT scores. It's a convention some students use, easy enough to ignore if it doesn't help you.</p>
<p>yeah i concur.</p>
<p>As Marite alluded to, scores are scaled by state of residence, perhaps because the SAT is so much more widely used on the coasts. btw: Mississippi has the lowest scores for national merit -- I think I read that that its about 193.</p>
<p>When do they release these scores to the HS? Early December?</p>
<p>Coomended scores can change. They make top 50,000 as commended scholars.</p>
<p>Our principal says the schools 'should' receive the scores around the 2nd week of December. Some schools don't tell the kids until after the holidays.</p>
<p>No state can have a nm score lower than the national commended score. It CAN be equal to. The commemded score has consistently been 200. The lowest states have hovered at 200,201,202. Never lower, at least in recent memory.</p>
<p>I believe that the commended cutoff this last year (for this year's Srs.)was actually 201. Though I have heard nothing official, I do know 2 kids who said they had 200's early on that later did not receive commendation. I know another with a 202 that did. Anyone know the official word?</p>
<p>The 2004 indices show commended at 200. This year's seniors, 2005 indices show 201 . Mississippi 2005, 203. 2004, 200.</p>
<p>The criterion for commended is not score but number of students--the top 50,000 (the very top of course go beyond commended, but that comes out of the 50,000--it is not in addition to it). For several years in the immediate past the commended cutoff was 200; at least once in the past decade it was 198 or 199. The commended cutoff does not vary by state; only the semifinalist cutoff does.</p>
<p>Here is the link to the semifinalist index for 2003 test takers - juniors.</p>
<p>The site says: "A student's selection index is arrived at by adding the verbal, math and writing PSAT scores. Each PSAT subtest ranges from 20 to 80--equivalent to the 200 to 800 SAT subtest scores. A selection index of 222 would be equivalent to earning a 740 on each of the three (verbal, math, and writing) subtests on the new SAT-I. "</p>
<p>Sorry if I'm repeating anyone else's comments here:
I don't think you can use the 132 & 1320 in tandem. As I understand, you should add the verbal and math PSAT together and add one zero to best determine how you might score on the SAT. BUT, the 132 isn't an accurate way to score the PSAT. You also have to add the writing section of the PSAT see where you fall on the index....132 being very low. The student on the other thread must add the writing score to the 132 and see the index on the link I've provided to get an idea of how close he/she might be to the state target....keeping in mind that the state target will adjust slightly each year. But, with regard to the SAT, this student should score about a 1320 (though, in my son's personal experience this figure wasn't an accurate guide)</p>