Reply to Are SAT scores just higher now than the mid/late 90s?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I took the SAT in 1987. It was harder then.

For example:

1. Each question had five choices - now it's four. Easier now to narrow down to two answers & guess.

2. No longer deducts points for incorrect answers.

3. You can superscore & use score choice.[/quote]

Same!

The SAT was "normalized" in 1995.  So you can add ~70-80 points to your verbal and maybe 10-30 to your math from back then (1987) to get an equivalent today. So if you got a 1400 then, it's closer to a 1500 now.

Also, we took the test once, we didn't prep (beyond sharpening enough #2 pencils to take with us on Saturday morning).    The PSAT was our test prep.  And the deducting points for incorrect answers kept people from having 1600 scores---we had to decide "how much do I think I know the correct answer or should I leave it blank". Much easier to be able to guess on ones we aren't certain. [/quote]

I took the test once without prep (got a 1240 in 1997 and got in everywhere I applied) but definitely people did prep and definitely people did retake them. [/quote]

I'm sure some people prepped and did retake.  But majority did not, now it's the norm.  [/quote]

I grew up in an upper middle class part of Baltimore and classes and retakes were very very common. [/quote] 
In the 80s?

I grew up in middle class suburb of Richmond and most did not prep and most only took it once.  I took SAT once and ACT once as I wanted schools where ACT was required/more common.  The PSAT was our prep for the SAT and the ACT I just winged it.  
But I'd be shocked if "classes" were common in the 80s/early 90s unless you were rich/wealthy[/quote]

Late 1990s.[/quote]

But, my sister took a prep class and took it twice and she graduated in 1992.

I think people make assumptions based on their local area. I guess in Richmond people didn’t do it. Now people also don’t do it in many places. The US average score is still 1050 so clearly not everyone is getting 1500s like people post on this board.[/quote]

Might be more the MC vs UMC aspect that guided the not prepping. [/quote]

Yes, that is probably true. I think it does matter and that’s part of why I think the test is crap. [/quote]

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