Hi,
I've heard a couple times that taking the Physics GRE in April, it will be easier to obtain a higher percentile score, since most people "take it in October/September and less in April..." Does anyone know anything (like statistics) about this?
thanks,
-Maxwell's Demon
PGRE percentile advantages - taking it in April/October
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- Posts: 101
- Joined: Fri Dec 21, 2007 6:09 am
That's right... apparently they do some kind of statistical procedure (which they call equating) that makes a score of XYZ reflect the same level of performance regardless of what version of the test you took, what date you took it on, and who else took it the same day. I'm not sure how it works, I tried to find out, but I had similar concerns as you and was told it's not a problem.
Also, the score reports say "the percentile scales are updated annually to reflect the performance of a recent sample of test takers..." so the possibility of getting a different percentile for a given scaled score in April is discounted.
Also, the score reports say "the percentile scales are updated annually to reflect the performance of a recent sample of test takers..." so the possibility of getting a different percentile for a given scaled score in April is discounted.
Yeah, ditto quizivex and twistor here.
Plus, if fewer people take the test in April, then the confidence level for any given interval will be lower, because statistically there is less data. So it it might be easier to score higher and score lower, the normal distribution won't be as well defined. But either way, I think that there are enough Physics GRE test takers on any set day for any given test version (there are different forms on each day) that the ETS is able to be confident enough, for all practical purposes. Plus, I think, most places ignore small score differences anyway.
Marten
Plus, if fewer people take the test in April, then the confidence level for any given interval will be lower, because statistically there is less data. So it it might be easier to score higher and score lower, the normal distribution won't be as well defined. But either way, I think that there are enough Physics GRE test takers on any set day for any given test version (there are different forms on each day) that the ETS is able to be confident enough, for all practical purposes. Plus, I think, most places ignore small score differences anyway.
Marten
interestingly enough, when I got the report after sending my scores to different universities my general quant. and analytical writing percentages went up by 1% from the time I took it in May.Also, the score reports say "the percentile scales are updated annually to reflect the performance of a recent sample of test takers..."