Why did i get a 500 on the SAT for writing, but a 3 on the State Test?

Question

i'm in seventh grade and took the SAT for Academic Challenge.

does anybody know why i did poor and then didn't?

Answer 1

If you're talking about the standardized state tests, they're very, very basic compared to the SAT. You get your prompt, and there's a very strict formula laid out for answering the prompt. It's basically testing whether or not you can read and follow instructions; the commentary itself generally does not have to be "deep" or even remotely close. It just has to make some sense.

Your score on the SAT writing, on the other hand, is based 2/3 off the MC section, and 1/3 on your essay.

The essay itself is semi-difficult, with two readers scoring it on a scale of 1-6, and the scores are then combined to create a raw score of 12. Your essay should have at least 2, if not 3 examples to support the prompt, and personal experiences generally are not a good idea to include. Most of them should come from literature (and by "literature," I don't mean stuff like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings), technology, current events, etc. Introductions and conclusions are a must. Content aside, the sheer amount of stuff you need to dump into your essay is enormous and difficult to do in 25 minutes. And also, you can't just BS something and fabricate flaky  connections between example and prompt. You must clearly explain and support your examples, which should take at least 4-5 lines, usually more (for me anyways, I got a 12 on my essay). The explanations should be "meaningful" and show insight on par with that of a junior or senior high school student. Frankly, I'm actually pretty impressed with your 500 at the 7th grade level. It's around average as compared to the nation, and the "nation" is 90+% older than you.

The multiple choice section is a real *****, especially the part where you have to circle the underlined phrase that's incorrect, whether it's syntax, grammar, dictation, etc. Hint - you will never have an error that's misspelling. You need to have a solid, comprehensive grasp of the English language to ace this part; either that, or study your butt off like a foreign exchange student. Sometimes, errors involve not a written "rule" of English, but rather, idioms that cannot be explained by anything else but "that's just the way it is."

Whereas standarized tests test you for the most basic skills for someone of YOUR grade level, the SAT aims to slightly s***w over high school juniors and seniors. The state wants you to pass the tests so you can move on to the next grade level. Collegeboard would hang themselves if everyone started making over 700s on their tests; after all, the SATs ARE a way for actual colleges to rank their applicants and gouge their skills. You can't have everyone being a top scorer in that case.