<p>I've read numerous threads talking about curves and would like to know what they are about.
Also, is it better to get a test with a low curve or high curve?</p>
<p>The SAT is a curved test, meaning that your scaled score (600-2400) is dependent on your performance relative to other people, not how many you actually missed. What this means is that missing 4 on math, for example, won’t get you the same scaled score every time; the curve differs every time, depending on the difficulty of the test. An easy curve refers to when the scaled score is higher for a given raw score than usual, while a hard curve means that the scaled score is lower than usual.</p>
<p>Whoa… that made it quite clear!
Thanks a lot!!!
Is there a different curve for international tests</p>
<p>Thanks MiroKaz. That was quite detailed and useful!</p>
<p>Actually, there IS a different curve for the international test, because the international test is completely different. There are two versions: the US and the International test. The curves for them are different, of course.</p>
<p>Does that mean hat where ever you live, if its outside the US, you get the same test?</p>
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<p>No. Quoting from the [College</a> Board](<a href=“The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board”>Your SAT Score Explained – SAT Suite | College Board), “… a student’s score does not depend on how well others did on the same edition of the test.”</p>
<p>The SAT curve is not like a typical teacher’s curve, which might, for example, adjust scores so that 10% get A’s, 20% get B’s, etc. Or, if you scored better than everyone else, the teacher’s curve might give you an A, other people getting B’s, C’s etc.</p>
<p>The SAT curve solely adjusts for the small differences in difficulty from one test to another. On a easier math SAT, a raw score of 50 might mean a scaled score of 710. On a harder math SAT, a raw score of 50 might mean a scaled score of 730. Score percentiles are not fixed (i.e., the percentage of people scoring 800, for example, varies).</p>
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<p>That is a load of bull. Theoretically, every student could take the SAT this January and score a 2400. Fignewton already beat me to the explanation.</p>
<p>Sorry for the inaccurate explanation. Iceqube and fignewton, you are both right that it is not dependent on other students’ performance. Here’s a link to a hopefully better explanation of how it’s curved:</p>
<p>[What</a> happens between when you finish the SAT and scores come out?](<a href=“Testive”>Testive)</p>