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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]What's a good score for a 10th grader?[/quote]

You can expect about a 100 point increase from fall 10th grade to fall 11th grade. My 10th grader got 1280, so I’d guess he’d get around 1380 next year. Good but not great. I will definitely have him do SAT prep junior year [/quote]

I have twins.

My son went up 140 points with a decent amount of prep.  1300--> 1440

My daughter went up 100 points with the same prep.   1200->1300

She actually has better grades in harder classes. [/quote]

Good grades are box checking with a large premium for cognitive capacity. Box checking is not that great, comparatively. for actually improving academic / analytical capacity from what I understand from research. So, results not that surprising and would not read much into it. And, some research suggest getting good grades and doing what it takes to getting into selective colleges signals the person is a desirable hire for attractive employers. The kids will be allright.     [/quote]

It would be helpful if those using amorphic terms like "good grades" or "bad test results" would add a parenthetical to help the reader understand the writer's perspective.

Are "good grades" (1) 4.00 unweighted only, (2) 3.90 - 4.00, (3) 3.80 - 4.00, (4) 3.70 - 4.00, etc.?
Does rigor influence it? Is a 4.00 unweighted / 4.24 weighted better or worse than a 3.86 unweighted, 4.43 weighted?
Is a pattern of better and better grades over time viewed more favorably than consistent grades that end at the same final GPA? Is 3.70 freshman, 3.85 sophomore, 4.00 junior better than 3.85 across the board?

Same with standardized tests? Can we add a parenthetical with our view of what constitutes good or bad or whatever results?

I understand that it varies from college to college. But when I read someone's post and it states "Don't bother applying to Georgetown with bad grades", or "Unless your test scores are tippy top, you really should consider an SEC school instead" ... I'm basically left feeling that the poster provided 1/2 the relevant information, or at least 1/2 of what they think.[/quote]

I don't have an answer to your questions and I don't disagree with any of your points. What I meant to say is that if you have two non-identical twins. It's not that surprising if the one with lower grades than the other (and I have to assume same "rigor", while fully acknowledging your points about what "good grades" mean) would do better in the PSAT/SAT as grades in my view is a lot of box checking, albeit greatly helped by academic talent / high cognitive capacity, and the SAT/PSAT is a bit less so. Furthermore, some research suggest that box-checking studying is not that great for gaining lasting academic abilities. Bottomline is, I'm just not that surprised if someone with a tad lower (comparable) grades get meaningfully better PSAT/SAT scores.        [/quote]

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