<p>People have said that the curve doesn't matter and everything, but overall, which is an easier option: January SAT or March SAT??? Which is supposedly easier? I've heard all different answers and I REALLY NEED TO KNOW! Thanks!</p>
<p>its not a curve, its equated…meaning that even if there are easier questions on one, you will still get the same score based on your skill level as someone who took the harder test. The “curve” that you speak of is not on a single test, that wouldn’t be fair. Its on the whole year I believe.</p>
<p>so both are equally difficult, you mean?</p>
<p>Yes, THEORETICALLY, both are equal in difficulty. In practice obviously one is going to be harder than the other, but relative difficulty varies every year and you can’t predict it based on the month alone. Basically don’t worry about stuff like this. Just study and take the test during a month that fits in your schedule.</p>
<p>Supposedly, the January test has an better curve because eighth graders want to take the test after winter break. However, this is countered by the number of smart highschoolers, who also study during winter break. Now, you might as well register for March or else you will have to pay a late fee I think.</p>
<p>^No, the curves and the relative difficulty of the tests are unrelated to the people taking the test. Crazybandit is correct: don’t worry about this stuff, take the test when the timing is best for you.</p>
<p>One nice thing about the Jan test is that you can get your test back. However, there are only a few weeks left before that test.</p>
<p>its impossible for them to be equally difficult, unless they use the same test over and over again. It just that if you take a harder test, which means that most people miss the questions on it, it will be balanced so that you get a score similar to if you took an easier test.</p>
<p>I heard the curves were predetermined though, so no matter who’s taking the test with you (a bunch of gorillas or a bunch of SAT-prep geniuses), you will get the same score.</p>
<p>yes they are, they are predetermined after the ets people see the results from the questions being used in the experimental section. They see which questions were missed and by which group, eg. 800’s or 500’s. Btw credits for this info is steve schwartz at lsatblog.</p>
<p>Alright, thanks! I was planning on taking the March sat and then I saw all these threads about how insane and harsh the March curve was…</p>
<p>
I’m not sure if you understood the messages behind most of our posts.</p>
<p>The curves are predetermined. You will get the same score equal to your SAT ability no matter what.</p>
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<p>The second part is correct; the first part, not so much. The equating of a new test takes place after the test is administered, using the results of repeated questions in the equating sections. The equating results in the raw-to-scale score curve that adjusts for test difficulty.</p>
<p>OP, based on released tests, there isn’t a pattern such as “all March tests have harsh curves”. If your schedule is good for a March test, take it.</p>
<p>Suggestion? Take the test when YOU feel ready. </p>
<p>Case in point: my best friend and her twin brother are planning on doing the SAT at two different times. She wants to do it in January because she’s prepped the last few months and wants to have it done. He, on the other hand, would like more time to prepare and will likely take the test in March. </p>
<p>A friend of mine took the test last year in January and I took it in March. We both took it again in October. She admits that she took it in January mostly because of scheduling conflicts with the March test. I waited until March because I knew I wouldn’t be able to focus on the test in January, what with everything else going on.</p>
<p>I’m taking it in March for two main reasons, jan, may, and june are all inconvenient. January and June are both around exam times for my school and may is AP exam time which leaves March as the only good time to take it. </p>
<p>Anyways how can you predict which time will be easier? That’s impossible based off of the month. The curve will equate for the difficulty</p>
<p>Sometimes the test is easier with harsher curve; sometimes the test is harder with more lenient curve. The easier test or harder test can be administered on any test date, and given the fact that there may now be 2 versions of the test on a particular exam date, there may be harder or easier tests depending on which desk you are sitting at. The difficulty of the questions were determined based on data collected when they were experimental questions or possibly also on data collected on previously administered tests. But what the group that you are taking the test with will not adjust the data for how hard or difficult the question was because it’s too hard to statistically re-adjust for how the “current” test takers took it in the short reporting score reporting time. This is what people mean when they say that the curves are already set. The January test may have more people scoring high because they studied over the break; but their high score will not reduce your chances (nor increase your chances) of getting a high score as well.</p>
<p>Being able to buy the test booklet is very helpful on the January SAT. I have heard that the January SAT is taken by the fewest number of students and the March test is taken by the highest number of students.</p>
<p>^It is correct that January is the least popular SAT date; however, the most popular SAT month is October.</p>