My son got a 770 on the most recent chemistry test. I thought that was a very good score especially because he only took one regular class of sophomore chem. But the national percentile is only 80%. That doesn’t sound very good. Could somebody explain how they get these percentages and does that mean most people scored a perfect 800 and his score really isn’t that great compared to most kids. Thanks
First of all, getting a 770 on the chem SAT II is great. Most students getting a perfect score have taken AP Chemistry. Therefore, if your son desires a perfect score, I recommend taking AP Chem junior year. Either than that, I really see no issue with a 770 on this test. If you are feeling unsure about it, your son has plenty of time to take more subject tests in the springtime.
I had the same question on the national percentages for the subject matter tests. For example DS scored an 800 on Math 2 . Percentile National: 81 “You scored higher than 81% of a national group of seniors.” Does this mean 19 % of Math2 takers score an 800?
He scored high on other tests as well, but the national percentages were not as high as I would have thought based off of non-subject test SAT scores, which were high and 99th percentile. On US History he scored 780 but the national percentage he scored higher than was 93.
Don’t get me wrong very happy for him for the scores. But the national percentage/scaled score alignment seem strange. Collegeboard website does not explain this well.
On some of the subject tests like USH and Math II, when so many people get perfect scores, the percentiles can seem off. Don’t worry about the percentiles too much- admissions officers aren’t looking at that, they’re looking at the score.