Firstly, my apologies if this is the wrong heading for this question, and I’ll keep this brief.
I just got my PSAT scores, and while I’m happy with them, they’re the same this year as they were from my sophomore year. While the scores themselves were the same, I looked into the questions and found that I got 9 questions wrong in total last year compared to 4 this year. I know that the PSATs use the equating process to regulate scores, but this disparity between score and questions still felt notable. If I’m crazy and overthinking it, please let me know. Thanks!
Can you share how many you got wrong by section - I have both conversion charts and can’t immediately see a combination that would result in this.
Regardless, as you said, there’s an equating process. The raw number you get right or wrong really is irrelevant, it’s how you compare to others taking the test (in general). The number you got right/wrong in the two years was at pretty much the exact same percentile of the broad evaluation population, which is what the same score represents.
The raw numbers would just mean that this year’s exam was much easier. The same percentage of students that got 9 or fewer questions wrong last year got 4 or fewer wrong this year. (Conceptually, the actual mechanics are a bit more complex with three sections).
Sure thing! Last year, I got 4 wrong on the reading portion, 2 wrong on writing and language, and three wrong on math with calculator. This year, I got 2 wrong on reading, 1 wrong on writing and language, and 1 wrong on math with calculator.
It may be due to the test being easier this year, but even so, that just struck me as a pretty big difference in difficulty for such a regulated exam.
I talked with a teacher about it and they mentioned that it could simply be because the expectations increase as someone goes from sophomore to junior year, but I want to make sure. Thanks so much!