8/23/25 SAT scores out

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honest question here - my DD took the SAT for the 3rd time in August. First two time the score was the exact same and this time it went up by 30 points. Her superstore is shy of a 1400 but her GPA is great, all 5s on APS, etc... I feel like at this point it's not worth it taking again but anxious for her because her scores and the rest of her academics don't jive and I know many schools make first cuts based on SAT scores. Would it be completely nuts to have her take the ACT once this fall just to see or should we just submit or opt out depending on the school? Please don't mock me - this is an honest question

Hi there, what are her practice test scores for both tests? If she consistently scores above her super score or a desired ACT score, then have her take a test this fall. If not, I would go with what she has (using TO where it makes sense) and not put the mental and time load on her. Also what does she want to do? If she is fighting you on taking a test this fall, you have to consider that.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:This thread seems to have a lot of "perfect GPA/ high rigor" kids who are surprised their kids are scoring in the 1300-1400 range (still a great score)!

I think what this shows is that grading standards at high schools (especially public ones) have become so inflated that GPA is a barely meaningful metric any more. Also demonstrates the folly of test optional policies.

Every high school is different. Every kid is different. Test scores should not be dispositive in the admissions context, but it is undeniably useful to have a single uniform and unbiased metric for all kids in the admissions pool (if only to normalize the wildly different quality and grading standards across high schools).

It's also helpful for students to understand their own strengths and weaknesses.

Another +1

In our school (a top private outside DMV), it’s quite common for a junior to get 1470-1550 in their first try, some after trying in 10th grade and getting 1430+, yet none of these kids has ever experienced a 4.0 in their life. They often have 3.7-3.85 GPAs. And before anyone says they must have tests prep tutors to achieve those high SATs, I can tell you our DCs didn’t and you have to then also ask why couldn’t those same tutors help them get the elusive 4.0.

I think schools that inflate GPAs have shot themselves in the foot because they invite college admissions to question the rigor of their curriculum. And when a school sends in 60 applications same year all with indistinguishable 4.0, top rigor, multiple club leaderships and school awards, the easiest way for admissions officers is to reject all of them.

Last year, 5 kids out of 110 in our school cracked 3.9 for their GPA; they all got into HYPMS, as did some with 3.85-3.89.

When you have an entrance exam to get into the high school, you can't take credit for the school's amazing SAT scores. My DD's school is the same way. But these girls all killed it in 8th grade on their entrance test. Not surprising they're high SAT scorers, too.

You misunderstood my point. My point was not that the school alone was responsible for high SAT scores. I was simply echoing OR who thought the frequent cases of super high GPA + lower SAT show many schools, esp public high schools, grade inflate. Whenever we hear on this board someone has a 4.0 GPA yet was shut out from T20, often they are from these same high schools, never from schools that only give 5 kids a 3.9. My point is top colleges have also caught on to the rampant grade inflation and the grade inflation may have backfired because it invites questions on the HS’s rigor if everyone could get a 4.0 yet those same kids couldn’t crack 1450.

THIS. Or the valedictorians from upper middle class publics with 1350, 1380, and mostly 3s because"no one gets 5s on AP" yet the private school has kids who did not crack the top 20% for GPA(cum laude) yet had 1550 and mostly 5s, JHU ED for Engineering and got in as they should (my nephew). Then people think it is unfair --no it is a better education and much less inflation; AO's know this.

This is not a thing.

The ridiculous stories private school parents tell themselves

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Test scores should not be dispositive in the admissions context, but it is undeniably useful to have a single uniform and unbiased metric for all kids in the admissions pool (if only to normalize the wildly different quality and grading standards across high schools).

It's not unbiased! It's biased in favor of kids from upper SES homes with college educated parents who can pay for prep courses.

Yet so many UMC moms in this thread reporting they are happy with their DCs 1200 scores. It’s the LEAST biased factor. The test doesn’t care grandpa’s seven figures trust, it also doesn’t care extended time UMC moms bought for their mediocre kids.

+1

Most kids are just that: average.

It's ok.

I wouldn’t say I was happy about the 1200 score. My DC isn’t either. But, it is not life changing.

Me, I thought I was hot $hit with my top SAT score, top 20 college and nmsf. Turns out most people don’t care in the real world, and especially outside of DCUM.

It hasn’t gotten me more happiness, or a better job, or promotions, or more money.

I also refused to pay thousands for tutoring or private school.

There should be a question about how much you paid for tutoring, how many times you took the exam, and how much your school costs on the Common App.

Also maybe it should only be offered 3 times and or all schools should be test required.

You must have scored very poorly on the SAT Math section!
Average is 50%.
A 1050 is an average SAT score.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:there are the same number of each score every test.

it's easier to get a high school on a hard test.

you can miss more and still get a high score.

On the digital test, different questions are worth different numbers of points, unlike the old paper test.

and it's still normed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1480, same as before. Dd took it at Yorktown HS in an auditorium seat, not a desk, and her laptop didn't fit on the pull up surface and had to do math calculations on paper on her knee. It slowed her down, so she wants to take it again at a different school.

My DS was stuck in that same auditorium and had the same complaint about the seats/lack of a desk (though he said the seats were comfortable). Not sure if he will take it again and if he does, not sure whether to sign up at Yorktown again or try somewhere else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Test scores should not be dispositive in the admissions context, but it is undeniably useful to have a single uniform and unbiased metric for all kids in the admissions pool (if only to normalize the wildly different quality and grading standards across high schools).

It's not unbiased! It's biased in favor of kids from upper SES homes with college educated parents who can pay for prep courses.

Yet so many UMC moms in this thread reporting they are happy with their DCs 1200 scores. It’s the LEAST biased factor. The test doesn’t care grandpa’s seven figures trust, it also doesn’t care extended time UMC moms bought for their mediocre kids.

+1

Most kids are just that: average.

It's ok.

I wouldn’t say I was happy about the 1200 score. My DC isn’t either. But, it is not life changing.

Me, I thought I was hot $hit with my top SAT score, top 20 college and nmsf. Turns out most people don’t care in the real world, and especially outside of DCUM.

It hasn’t gotten me more happiness, or a better job, or promotions, or more money.

I also refused to pay thousands for tutoring or private school.

There should be a question about how much you paid for tutoring, how many times you took the exam, and how much your school costs on the Common App.

Also maybe it should only be offered 3 times and or all schools should be test required.

You must have scored very poorly on the SAT Math section!
Average is 50%.
A 1050 is an average SAT score.

I don’t understand what you mean. To be clear, My child got a 1200. I got a much higher score and back in the 90s, was NMSF. It hasn’t been as huge as some people, especially on this thread, make it out to be.

[Anonymous]

My kid’s score was exactly the same as the last practice test he took (1480). First time taking it— kid is a junior. He is happy with the score; may retake sometime later.

[Anonymous]

FWIW our CC suggested taking SAT somewhere kid had never been and was unlikely to see anyone s/he knew in an effort to remove some pressure.
In fact, both DCs did much better in this scenario. No idea if this was reason vs anything else, but putting it out there….

[Anonymous]

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[b]
What about an A in Calc AB, a 4 on the exam, and a 630 on the math portion of the SAT? For a kid who doesn’t ever plan on taking another math course in their life?

Not everyone is an engineering or CS major, but they all have to perform on this same test. Even the Ivies educate artists and musicians and philosophers and all sorts of other multifaceted individuals whose contributions can’t be measured by a standardized test.

I'm sorry, a person who gets a 4 on the Calc AB exam and a 630 on the SAT Math test does not deserve an "A" in a true college level calculus course. This is exactly the problem with grade inflation and the insane "rigor" arms race. The 4 and the 630 are not consistent with A-level mastery of the topic. In a school with honest grading standards, such a student would get a "B" in an AP class.

Gee I wonder which has more rigor, AP classes which aren’t actually college-level work but have a standard test at the end or an actual college class at a real Community College that is an actual college level class with an actual grade that goes on a transcript.

Big hint: someone with a bunch of 5’s is not necessarily going to an Ivy, but someone rocking a 4.0 at community college has a fantastic transfer shot to a T20.

Not everyone at UVA Wise makes it, but the real stars waltz right in to the Big Show.

Colleges generally consider DE classes (high school kids taking classes at community classes) less rigorous than AP classes because the paper group is much less advanced.

[Anonymous]

parent of first time taker who got 1380. For those who used tutoring/prep classes, was it actually helpful?

some of DCs friends are using a prep course that charges $2,000 and it seems like a lot. DC is upset b/c her score isn't in line with schools she's looking at. But i honestly don't know how realistic it is that she will improve. She did do some practice on her own and joined some sort of online group prep thing that didn't seem particularly organized or helpful. Do tutors really make much of a difference?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:parent of first time taker who got 1380. For those who used tutoring/prep classes, was it actually helpful?

some of DCs friends are using a prep course that charges $2,000 and it seems like a lot. DC is upset b/c her score isn't in line with schools she's looking at. But i honestly don't know how realistic it is that she will improve. She did do some practice on her own and joined some sort of online group prep thing that didn't seem particularly organized or helpful. Do tutors really make much of a difference?

What grade is your DC? It is worth setting aside time with a tutor or you can set a study schedule with her after analyzing all her practice scores and her most recent score.

[Anonymous]

Also 1380 is a great starting point if she wants to retake it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:750 math and 670 reading (11th grader). Wants to retake. Plans to major in engineering.

Ouch

Wow. I'm the parent who posted this, and I am very proud of her score. She does want to retake it, but she is happy with her first time score (as she should be).

To post "ouch"- even on an anonymous board- no matter what the score- you must be a truly awful human.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:750 math and 670 reading (11th grader). Wants to retake. Plans to major in engineering.

Ouch

Wow. I'm the parent who posted this, and I am very proud of her score. She does want to retake it, but she is happy with her first time score (as she should be).

To post "ouch"- even on an anonymous board- no matter what the score- you must be a truly awful human.

I read that and thought the same thing. Mean just to be mean

[Anonymous]

No reason for anyone to be mean about a kid’s SAT score. Look in the mirror. Are you perfect? And what kind of example are you setting for your kid?