Hi,
I recently got my SAT score back, and since this is my second time taking it, I noticed some differences between the conversion of my math raw scores to scaled scores. On my first SAT, I got 12 questions incorrect and received a 660. This time, I only got 8 questions incorrect, 4 less than my last one, but received the same score of 660. I know the way it converts between each test is definitely different, but do you think 4 questions is enough of a difference to look into it?
To look into what? Different test= different scale. The CB has never said that every test has the exact same scale, and nobody should have any expectation otherwise.
August is a harder curve. One mistake leads to 770. Read this thread here http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/sat-preparation/2155730-sat-math-scores-for-august-2019-test.html#latest
Are you suggesting CB made an error converting a raw score to a scaled score? Really?
Every test differs in terms of difficulty. Where you fit percentile-wise determines your score (roughly) through an equating process.
If they had added 4 more impossible questions that everyone got wrong, you would have 12 question wrong, but would be in the exact same position relative to other test takers and would receive the exact same scaled score. Would that make your score any more correct?
Tales of “harsh” or “hard” curves, suggesting that the exact same relative performance would yield a lower score, are just uninformed.
When the curve is harsh, that means the test was easy; if the curve is generous, that means the test was hard. It’s not a mystery, and it’s one of the few things the College Board does pretty reliably well.