<p>I remember reading that one of the test administration dates for the SAT has been consistently easier (in terms of the curve and stuff) over the years. </p>
<p>Does anyone know which one it is and whether it is actually any easier?</p>
<p>I just want the best chance to get a good score on my first try...</p>
<p>There’s really no such thing as an “easier” test date. If the test is easier, the curve will be harsher. That’s what it’s there for.</p>
<p>This may be of some use to you: <a href=“http://www.erikthered.com/tutor/SAT-Released-Test-Curves.pdf[/url]”>http://www.erikthered.com/tutor/SAT-Released-Test-Curves.pdf</a></p>
<p>The SAT is STANDARDIZED. The only way a curve would be easier is if the testing population was significantly dumber than a different date. While some say this happens (procrastinating seniors), it really doesn’t. Just study hard, and you’ll do fine.</p>
<p>^The curve wouldn’t necessarily be easier if the testing population were “significantly dumber” … what <em>would</em> happen is that a large bunch of people would get poor scores.</p>
<p>^Each SAT is put on a bell curve, based on the experimental sections. If the testing population was dumber, the average scores on the experimental section would be lower and the curve would be easier.</p>
<p>This is an issue that has been debated ad nauseam. The technical discussions about the process of standardizing and equating are still available in the depths of this forum. </p>
<p>As far a students are concerned, the ONLY two things they need to know is that the dates are NOT important and that the cohort taking a particular test does NOT influence the curve. The difficulty of a particular test is adjusted with a curve that is established **before **the test is given and based on **prior **experimental sections.</p>
<p>^right. Well said. And what that means is that since college board can draw upon any of the experimental sections it used in the past, it could have come from any month. In other words, it is randomized. </p>
<p>If anyone still believes that there are “easier” test months, well, the only way to get that easier test is by luck. start helping other people out and maybe good karma will come your way :)</p>
<p>There is no historically easy date</p>
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<p>The experimental sections are used to determine curves for future dates. The actual curve is determined by experimental sections from prior test dates, meaning that the curve is already predetermined. If everybody taking the test happened to be “dumber,” their scores would simply be lower.</p>
<p>Really guys, I know that the test is standardized and was just wondering about this phenomena I read about some time ago.</p>
<p>Thanks, marz93; That’s exactly what I was looking for!</p>
<p>Please read [this</a> College Board white paper](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools) on how SAT scaling is done; some of the above comments are not consistent with that paper.</p>
<p>The SAT scores are <em>not</em> fixed to a particular bell curve, and the score percentiles vary from one year to another (see page 4 of the pdf). Why is this important? Consider the following scenario in two parallel universes. On Earth #1, a student takes the SAT. On Earth #2, the same student takes the same SAT, except that a large bunch of “dumber” people (to use the same example) also take that SAT on Earth #2. The idea of standardization is that these two students will get the <em>same</em> score since they have the <em>same</em> abilities. Student #1’s percentile will be lower than student #2’s. For us here on Earth #2 (why not?), the goal of standardization is that, for example, two people with identical math ability that take the SAT in different months or years will get the <em>same</em> score, a matter of crucial importance to college admissions people.</p>
<p>The curve is <em>not</em> predetermined (i.e., it is <em>not</em> determined before the test is administered). The curve is used solely to correct for small variations in the difficulty of the test. The difficulty of the test is <em>not</em> fully known ahead of time. The test makers do a very good job adjusting content and difficulty level, but it isn’t possible to make two different tests exactly the same difficulty. So how is the difficulty truly determined? The test takers’ performance on the equating sections of the new test is compared to that of test takers who had the same equating section on a previous test (see page 2). Since the questions are identical, the puzzle of a hard test vs. a “dumber” group of test takers is resolved (both scenarios would lead to lower raw scores on average). Those of you who know that the CB generally likes to make money should wonder: if the curve is predetermined, why doesn’t the CB charge a fee for getting scores on site on test day (at least for reading and math)? The reason they don’t is because they can’t.</p>
<p>The take away thought is: Take the test when it best fits your study plan and application schedule. The curve will correct for an easier test or harder test, so that doesn’t matter. The method for determining the curve is not fooled by a bunch of “dumber” or “smarter” students taking the test, so <em>that</em> doesn’t matter either.</p>
<p>i thought it was more dummies take it > less 800s >easier curve > easier test date</p>
<p>^More dummies just means more poor scores. The other things you have, not necessarily.</p>
<p>Fignewton, the College Board has offered a concise and clear explanation on this issue. There is no ambiguity in this sentence: “Equating also ensures that a student’s score does not depend on how well others did on the same edition of the test.”</p>
<p>For reference:</p>
<p>[SAT</a> Reasoning Test - Scores & Reporting](<a href=“http://professionals.collegeboard.com/testing/sat-reasoning/scores/reports]SAT”>Your SAT Score Explained – SAT Suite | College Board)</p>
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<p>Xiggi:</p>
<p>I contend that even if the SAT did NOT meet this criteria, it would still say that on the CB site. If the SAT did not have multiple form reliability, its use in the college admission process would be compromised. Just like the CB would never admit that you can “study” for their test, they CB would never admit that results can waver from test to test. </p>
<p>The truth is, although the CB has an elaborate method of standardizing its tests, nobody exactly knows what this method is. And as such, any discussion of an “easier test date” is moot, because much of it is pure speculation. I, personally, don’t think the CB gets it right every time, and that results do waver from test to test. However, some important points to remember are: </p>
<p>a) Personal performance also changes between test dates
b) Even if the results differ, there is no set pattern to curve difficulty. Therefore, predicting curves is impossible.</p>
<p>Bigb14, inasmuch as there exists an unending supply of reports at The College Board -and even more at ETS-- we should ask ourseleves if this is an issue worthy of endless debates among … students? Is it really important to know how the equating process is established? </p>
<p>All that should matter to students is to realize that all tests are standardized, and that it is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to predict an easier administration … even if one existed. People who pretend that there are ways to predict easier or harder tests because of the participation of a certain group of students are simply peddling snake oil.</p>
<p>Thanks for that quote from the CB web site, xiggi; what I said is consistent with all of that. (What did I say which was not?) However, it is <em>incorrect</em> to say that the curve is determined ahead of time. Prior equating sections are used, yes, but in comparison to students’ performance on the same equating sections on the <em>new</em> test. This performance is not known until the new test is administered.</p>
<p>You’re right, students shouldn’t be debating this or worrying about these details, and I don’t think most are (probably even a lot of CCers aren’t because they’re studying 
). But someone who insists that “The October test is always easier” or says “I’m going to avoid the October SAT because a lot of test-honed seniors are taking it then and that will push my score down” needs to know something about how the process works, at least at a basic level. Otherwise, the old myths will never die, as you say.</p>
<p>Xiggi: I think we’re pretty much in agreement on that point</p>
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<p>Fig, we might have to decide to agree to disagree but this “Prior equating sections are used, yes, but in comparison to students’ performance on the same equating sections on the <em>new</em> test” is in direct contradiction to the unambiguous statement by TCB, namely “Equating also ensures that a student’s score does not depend on how well others did on the same edition of the test.” </p>
<p>If a student score does NOT depend on how well others did on the SAME edition on the test, no part of the performance of other students on the SAME test should influence his or her final score. Nowhere does TCB write that “Equating also ensures that a student’s score does not depend on how well others did on the SCORED SECTION of same edition of the test.” </p>
<p>It all boils down to selecting one of the TCB statements to believe: the simple and pragmatic statement posted on the TCB site or the more technical discussions about test equating that covers the finer points of linear versus equipercentile equating theories.</p>