SAT subject tests

<p>DO percentiles count? I appeared twice for Physics SAT Subject test. On both occasions I got a score of 800. However, on first attempt I got a percentile of 90, whereas on second occasion I got percentile of 98. Is this difference significant?</p>

<p>no, colleges see percentiles but they really only care about the score. You got an 800 both times (why you took it again is beyond me), so they'll see two 800s.</p>

<p>To get a percentile of 98 in Physics you need to get about 73 correct out of 75, whereas to get a percentile of 90 you need to get just 65 correct out of 75. Is this not a big difference? I can't understand how can colleges ignore such a big difference.</p>

<p>Uhh, percentiles aren't based on raw score -- they're based on your scaled score. The reason for the percentile difference is simply that percentiles differ per year because different students take it each year.</p>

<p>colleges don't look at your percentile I don't think. i think they just care about your raw score.</p>

<p>You mean scaled.</p>

<p>Lets assume a class of hundred students. One student got second position whereas another got 10th position. Is this difference negligible? This is what I understand by percentiles. Only the percentiles of SAT are more accurate since they are calculated based on performance of millions of students. However, I do agree that percentiles change every few months, but they do so slightly. I am doubtful that they could change by 8 or 9 percent.</p>

<p>Can I just ask a simple question: Why in the world did you take the SAT Physics twice if you got 800 the first time (and the second time)??? O_O</p>

<p>Bs .</p>

<p>I wanted to improve my percentile. That's the reason I repeated physics test.</p>

<p>The percentile is based only on the scaled score. NOT your raw score.</p>

<p>If percentiles are based on scaled score, how come two students getting same "scaled" score(that is, score of 800) can get percentiles as different as 98 and 90.</p>

<p>I can't believe anyone would retake an 800... :/</p>

<p>niether do i......................</p>

<p>FAIZANZUBAR, if the tests are taken in different years, then it's possible.</p>

<p>all right I give up. It is hard to believe that I did so much hard work for nothing. But alpha2400 are you absolutely sure that percentiles are inconsequential?</p>