<p>is a 790 just as good as an 800 or is it that different?</p>
<p>Yep, just about.</p>
<p>Generally, a 780+ is considered on the same level as an 800.</p>
<ol>
<li> good enough.</li>
</ol>
<p>is the scale used to score these test exponential or linear</p>
<p>that is to say, is the difference between a 790 and an 800 the same as a 590 and a 600?</p>
<p>statistically there is no difference but cmon 800 or 790.......no contest 800 just looks and sounds better</p>
<p>Theoretically, one question can separate an 800 from a 790. However, since the College Board often gives SAT IIs very generous curves, in many cases the difference is far greater. For instance, on the Physics SAT II, one can often miss 10 questions and still receive an 800. On the Math IIC, it's usually about 6 or 7. Someone who barely makes the 800 cutoff isn't appreciably better than a 790 scorer, but those who actually ace the test probably are. As a result, I think that there may be a sizeable statistical difference between the average 800 scorer and the average 790 or 780 scorer.</p>
<p>Do colleges think about this? Maybe, maybe not. But don't let the test-makers' scale deceive you - 790 and 800 look close, but that doesn't mean that they always are.</p>