Hey everyone! I've been prepping for the PSAT and I just want to know how the scoring works. Do they curve the PSAT scores like some other standardized tests or is it scored differently?
Hello there! You're asking a very common question that comes up around PSAT time. The quick answer is that yes, the PSAT is indeed 'curved,' but it might not be in the way you think. The term 'curve' usually suggests that your scores are directly compared to how others perform on the test. However, the PSAT uses a process called 'equating.' This method adjusts for slight differences in difficulty among different versions of the test so that scores are fair and comparable across different test administrations.
For example, if the version of the PSAT you took was a bit tougher than the one given in the previous year, the equating process might result in a higher 'scaled' score for you, despite a similar number of questions answered correctly. This ensures that no student has an advantage or disadvantage from taking a particular version of the test. Good luck with your preparation!
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