My son (completed his Sophmore year in High School) just received his SAT Subject Test scores. He got a 790 on the Math 2 test and a 750 on the Chemistry test. Those scores sounded awesome to me but the percentile rank for a 790 Math 2 score is 86% which seemed low. The scores are only in multiple of 10s, aren't they? The 86% percentile just seemed low for a 790... maybe they should curve the scores as much as they do.
So is a Math 2 SAT Subject Test score of 790 really good?
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Dead of Knight
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The only higher score he could have gotten was a 800. Of course, mostly only really smart people will even attempt the Math 2 subject test, which means a greater % of people will get a perfect score than on say, the regular SAT. Considering your son is only a sophomore, he may as well take it again in a year, he'll probably get a perfect score. Your son is doing more than fine.
giantqtipz
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Higher than mine when I was in HS in 2007. So yea he's good.
Sounds like someone went through some heavy test prep.
SAT's are a poor metric of student ability btw. They're culturally biased(yes even on math), can be coached using test taking techniques rather than actual knowledge, only judge the students ability according to it's heavily skewed benchmarks at that time, and in no way represents the student's ability to succeed in a college environment.
SAT's are a poor metric of student ability btw. They're culturally biased(yes even on math), can be coached using test taking techniques rather than actual knowledge, only judge the students ability according to it's heavily skewed benchmarks at that time, and in no way represents the student's ability to succeed in a college environment.
[quote name='dohdough']Sounds like someone went through some heavy test prep.[/QUOTE]
Nope. We bought him a Barron's study guide for Math 2 and Chemistry but he only used the Chemistry one, never used the Math 2 book. The kid just gets math. He never seems to study for Math tests. I'm afraid at some point his lack of good study habits is going to catch up to him.
Nope. We bought him a Barron's study guide for Math 2 and Chemistry but he only used the Chemistry one, never used the Math 2 book. The kid just gets math. He never seems to study for Math tests. I'm afraid at some point his lack of good study habits is going to catch up to him.
[quote name='dohdough']Sounds like someone went through some heavy test prep.
SAT's are a poor metric of student ability btw. They're culturally biased(yes even on math), can be coached using test taking techniques rather than actual knowledge, only judge the students ability according to it's heavily skewed benchmarks at that time, and in no way represents the student's ability to succeed in a college environment.[/QUOTE]
This.
[quote name='cheapfrag']Nope. We bought him a Barron's study guide for Math 2 and Chemistry but he only used the Chemistry one, never used the Math 2 book. The kid just gets math. He never seems to study for Math tests. I'm afraid at some point his lack of good study habits is going to catch up to him.[/QUOTE]
It absolutely will. If he goes to an academically notable/prestigious/whatever university (you get my drift) it will hit him like a sack of bricks.
SAT's are a poor metric of student ability btw. They're culturally biased(yes even on math), can be coached using test taking techniques rather than actual knowledge, only judge the students ability according to it's heavily skewed benchmarks at that time, and in no way represents the student's ability to succeed in a college environment.[/QUOTE]
This.
[quote name='cheapfrag']Nope. We bought him a Barron's study guide for Math 2 and Chemistry but he only used the Chemistry one, never used the Math 2 book. The kid just gets math. He never seems to study for Math tests. I'm afraid at some point his lack of good study habits is going to catch up to him.[/QUOTE]
It absolutely will. If he goes to an academically notable/prestigious/whatever university (you get my drift) it will hit him like a sack of bricks.
Dead of Knight
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[quote name='dohdough']Sounds like someone went through some heavy test prep.
[/QUOTE]
Not really. I'm a good standardized test taker and never took any SAT prep outside of the couple of sample questions my English teachers would give us during regular class time. I did some extra studying for the SAT 2 US History, but that was mainly because my US History 2 class only really covered up to WW2. And I ended up doing better than a lot of people who got better grades than me, simply because I am a good standardized test taker. For example, the valedictorian and salutatorian at my high school didn't even break 1200/1600 despite heavy prep.
[/QUOTE]
Not really. I'm a good standardized test taker and never took any SAT prep outside of the couple of sample questions my English teachers would give us during regular class time. I did some extra studying for the SAT 2 US History, but that was mainly because my US History 2 class only really covered up to WW2. And I ended up doing better than a lot of people who got better grades than me, simply because I am a good standardized test taker. For example, the valedictorian and salutatorian at my high school didn't even break 1200/1600 despite heavy prep.
soulvengeance
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[quote name='dohdough']Sounds like someone went through some heavy test prep.
SAT's are a poor metric of student ability btw. They're culturally biased(yes even on math), can be coached using test taking techniques rather than actual knowledge, only judge the students ability according to it's heavily skewed benchmarks at that time, and in no way represents the student's ability to succeed in a college environment.[/QUOTE]
Well, until someone comes up with a better metric, this is the best one they have. Grades generally are a poor indicator since the quality of the school can vary so much. I would say math is probably the least biased really. My brother busted out a 700 something in 7th grade, and he didn't have any test prep. In general, the test prep can help maximize your potential score, but you're not suddenly going to score perfectly on the test, some type of knowledge still comes into play.
SAT's are a poor metric of student ability btw. They're culturally biased(yes even on math), can be coached using test taking techniques rather than actual knowledge, only judge the students ability according to it's heavily skewed benchmarks at that time, and in no way represents the student's ability to succeed in a college environment.[/QUOTE]
Well, until someone comes up with a better metric, this is the best one they have. Grades generally are a poor indicator since the quality of the school can vary so much. I would say math is probably the least biased really. My brother busted out a 700 something in 7th grade, and he didn't have any test prep. In general, the test prep can help maximize your potential score, but you're not suddenly going to score perfectly on the test, some type of knowledge still comes into play.
That sounds good to me! I wish I could've taken the SAT... It seems like that's the main test everyone takes, but for some reason, the midwest does the ACT. I mean, I still did well (31 out of 36), but I think I would have done better on the SAT. Oh well, it's done and over with! Now to look forward to school next year!
Oh, and tell your son to buckle down! He sounds a lot like me (Took 1st in the regional Math meet with no prep or studying), and I wish I had better study habits! I know it will catch up to me later!!!
Oh, and tell your son to buckle down! He sounds a lot like me (Took 1st in the regional Math meet with no prep or studying), and I wish I had better study habits! I know it will catch up to me later!!!
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