<p>ok, so i've been creepin' through the thousaaaandddssss of "chance me" posts, and one really strange pattern i've noticed is that many 3.9-4.0 (straight a) students in honors and AP classes happen to have 28-31 ACT's or 1900-2100 SAT's.
for example, i personally have a 4.25 W and 3.38 UW GPA, but i still got a 36 and a 2380. a kid in my grade with a 4.88 W and 3.95 UW GPA got a 30 on his ACT and a 19something on his SAT.
why do so many great students have high-average standardized test scores?</p>
<p>Grade inflation is a big factor.</p>
<p>Silverturtle makes a good point. I would say they simply don’t approach the exams in a manner similar to the top 5%. Most students who score high on the SAT do so because they knew how to pick the test apart and exploit it.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Some students simply do not perform well on standardized exams.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is sometimes, but not always, the case. Oftentimes, a lack of or inefficient preparation may also result in a low score.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This hits the nail right on the head.</p>
<p>Previous valedictorians of my high school have never broken the 1470 (CR + M) mark. This year’s valedictorian got a 1790 on all three sections combined; the salutatorian scored a 2010 (ironically) on hers. The ones who are at the top of the class are the hardest workers, not the brightest bulbs, though the two do often overlap.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yep, this is sometimes the cause as well.</p>
<p>A lot of people don’t prepare well, and a lot of people don’t test well. Also, a lot of people can get high test scores, but don’t apply themselves well enough to get consistently good grades.</p>
<p>
One would assume that this is not the case for the OP and the mentioned classmate, given that they go to the same school, and one has a significantly higher SAT/ACT, and the other has a significantly higher GPA.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Yes, the OP describes special circumstances in his chance thread.</p>
<p>
Ah, I see. I had not checked the OP’s posting history.</p>
<p>well, i did have take some test prep classes. but i had perfect ACT reading and english scores in 8th grade, as well as a 780 on the SAT cr and a 750 w, so i was already on my way to perfects on those in high school.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I think a lot of the issues people have with test score discrepancy is their subconscious attitudes toward school. Many people seem to miss the real reason we take classes in school and instead aim to get good grades, and don’t maintain a permanent knowledge of subjects learned. These attitudes tend to work well in classes that include less critical analysis and application of new concepts. The traditional hard worker with an admirable work ethic but perhaps not as much prior knowledge can study to get a grasp of the concepts for the tests when necessary. For this reason, I think that many people have an easier time with AP Biology than AP Physics C, and AP Statistics instead of AP Calculus BC. Sure, AP Bio and AP Stats are good classes, but it is possible to get by with intense and rote memorization. With calculus, no question is exactly the same, so the approach and application of knowledge is different each time. In my experiences, many people choose AP Bio and Stats as an easier class, but one that still fulfills the honors / AP credits. In a way you could call this another form of grade inflation.</p>
<p>Saying that someone doesn’t test well is an inherently ambiguous statement. There are many reasons why people don’t test well, many of them different, but often tying into incorrect preparation. When hard working students try to apply this approach to the ACT / SAT, it doesn’t usually work. Standardized tests test skills learned over the high school career, and these skills must be second nature to complete each section at a reasonable pace. Without proper pacing, everything else falls apart, and nerves can take control incredibly easily. I think many of the hard working students approach the SAT / ACT with greater anxiety, partially because of their previous achievement, but also because of social situations and because ultimately nobody knows what is on a certain edition of the SAT / ACT until they take it (and therefore cannot study for it). In any case, increasing familiarity with the test is essential, especially for those who don’t “test well”.</p>
<p>Another thing to consider is that the SAT and ACT scores you see on CC are truly extraordinary. While on here, it may seem that everybody has a 2200 SAT or 33 ACT or higher, most students nationwide aren’t even close. A 30 ACT is 96th percentile, which statistically would be fitting to a person ranked in the top 10 % of their grade. Even a 1900 SAT corresponds to 88th percentile.</p>
<p>Thanks for describing me. I think it is because maybe they are so concern edwith their gpa’s that they didn’t have time to practice their SAT tests. I mean not all schools have a grade inflation. There are exceptions: My friend got a 2400 on the SAT and she has a high gpa’s (4.0), and go to the same school with me. I got slightly higher gpa’s than her, but my SAT scores are …(ok, I don’t want to embarass myself b/c everyone here seems to have a 2300+)</p>