What is a good IQ score

First off, the IQ score is based on the mean using a guassian distribution. This means that the average IQ score is "curved" to a score of 100. Consequently, this means that 50% of the people score above a score of 100, and 50% of people score below 100. A histogram of IQ scores looks like this:


Lastly, here are the descriptions of IQ scores:
If you have above 144, then you are assigned into the Genius category
If you have between 130 and 144, then you are in the gifted category
Between 100 and 130, you are in the above average category
Anything below 100 is below average.

May 3rd SAT results

Rejoice, or be upset, but May 3rd SAT scores are now available! Log onto your collegeboard account to check to see how you did. You could also call by phone, or wait a few weeks to recieve the score report by mail. Post how you did in the comments, and what you did to prepare for the SAT.

AP exams

Now that AP exams are officially over, what did you think about them? Which ones did you take and how hard did you think they were. Also, predict your AP score in the comments.

Perfect score on the SAT

I have receieved many emails asking what a perfect score is on the SAT, so here is the answer. A perfect SAT score is 2400, meaning you get 800 on each section of the SAT. This means the the best SAT score you can get, the highest SAT score, the perfect score is 2400 points. This also means that it is impossible to get higher than a perfect score of 2400 on the SAT.

On a side note, it is also impossible to get a score such as 2125, because the last digit needs to be a 0. Essentially, SAT scores must be multiples of 10.

How Important is the SAT?

It is not understatement that the SAT is the most important test you will ever take in your life. In college admissions, your New SAT and SAT subject test scores count for about 1/3 of your total chances, and GPA counts for about 1/3 also. The last third is made up of extracurriculars and the personal statements (college essays).

In case you missed it the first time, SATs count for as much as your entire GPA. That means ALL the grades you ever got in high school added up! Imagine how much time you spent studying for every test for every class, doing every homework, and add up all that time. That is how much the SAT is worth, and clearly shows how the SAT should not be taken lightly or underestimated.

What is a good score for the SAT?

SAT scores are rather relative, since they truly depend on your aspirations, and more generally, what colleges, and for what major you are applying for.
If you desire to go to an Ivy League college such as Harvard, Brown, Yale, Princeton, Cornell, Dartmouth, your SAT score needs to be at least 2200 to have a fighting chance. Thus if you aspire to get into a top tier college, a good SAT score would be 2200+.

Now say you want to apply for a competitive major such as engineering or biology at a top college, then your SAT score needs to be higher, at least 2250.

Next if you want to go to a top public college like UC Berkeley (UCB), or UCLA, then you need an SAT score higher than 2050 to have a decent chance. Now say you want to get into UCLA or UCB for a competitive major like computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, biology, or chemistry, then you need a higher SAT score. 2100 will give you a higher than 30% chance of getting into these top public colleges, but a great SAT score for you would be higher than 2150, which will give you higher than 50% chances for the engineering and science fields.

Lastly if you want to get into the really competitive math/science/engineering schools like Caltech or MIT, then a good new SAT score for you would be anything above 2250. If you really want high chances, then you will need an SAT score of above 2300.

Cancelling SAT results

If you know you did not do well on the SAT, you can still cancel your New SAT score. Of course, you will not be refunded the cost of the test. You also cannot cancel an individual section score, ALL your scores will be canceled. For example, if you know you didn't do well on math, you can't cancel that one score in particular, you will need to cancel all your scores, including writing and critical reading.

For SAT subject tests, you can cancel individual section scores ONLY if you report that your calculator stops working, whether it is due to faulty batteries, or a fried motherboard. Otherwise, you have no choice but to cancel ALL your SAT subject test scores.

You can cancel your SAT scores anytime before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, on the Wednesday after you take the SAT or SAT subject tests.

For more information, read this article on how to cancel your SAT scores.

Where to get SAT subject tests

One of the best ways to prepare for the SAT subject tests is to take REAL SAT subject test practice tests. Can you download free SAT subject tests online? The collegeboard has a list of subject tests available which will help you decide which you subject tests you should take.

Also you can find a preparation booklet for the subject tests, which has sample questions for each subject test, like literature, SAT subject test in math level 1 and level 2, subject test in US History, chemistry, and physics.

Lastly the best book to prepare for the SAT subject tests is made by the collegeboard:

This book has practice tests from every single SAT Subject test available, which will immensely help you prepare for the SAT subject tests.

If anybody has any links to download free sat subject tests, then post them in the comments.

How to prepare for AP exams

AP exams are upon us, so now is the time to crack open the books, and start to prepare for the AP exams. Now the question arises, how should you be preparing for AP exams?

There are several ways to prepare, the possibility of rereading every single page of your class textbook, but at this point in the game it is too late to do this.

The best way to prepare for the AP exams is to get a good review book, which will summarize all the AP course material, and best of all give you practice tests for the APs. For APUSH (AP US history) the best practice book is:


For AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC, the best practice book is


For AP Chemistry the best practice book is by princeton review:


For AP Physics B and AP Physics C Mechanics + Electricity and Magnetism, the best books to prepare are:




For AP Computer Science, the best book to help you learn all that Java is by Barrons:

May means AP exams!

AP examms are next week, and the following week. Are you ready? Here's a schedule of upcoming AP exams in May:

May 5: AP Government, AP French
May 6: AP Computer Science A, AP Computer Science AB, AP Spanish, AP Statistics
May 7: AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chinese
May 8: AP English Literature, AP German, AP French literature, AP Japanese
May 9: AP US History, AP European History, AP Studio Art
May 12: AP Biology, AP Music Theory, AP Physics B, AP Physics C (Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism)
May 13: AP Environmental Science, AP Chemistry, AP Psychology
May 14: AP Italian, AP English, AP Art History
May 15: AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP World History
May 16: AP Human Geography, AP Spanish Literature, AP Latin

May 3rd SAT

So the dreaded May 3rd SAT is finally over! Now you can relax until the June 7th SAT test date (and remember to register before May 6, 2008 to avoid paying the late fees!). A few people have been asking me when the results of the SAT or subject tests will be released. Typically the SAT results are mailed 4 weeks after the test date (June 2nd for the May 3rd test date), but who wants to wait that long to see how you scored on the SAT? Instead you can view your scores online at the collegeboard website exactly 19 days after your test date. For the May 3rd test date, you can see your SAT scores on May 22nd. Usually the scores come up at 8 AM Eastern Time 19 days after your test date. 8 AM Eastern Time tranlates to 5 AM Pacific Coast Time.

Your other alternative to see SAT and SAT Subject test scores is to give the collegeboard a call at (866) 756-7346 (Domestic US), however there is a fee, and the phone scores are available at the same time as the web scores, so why pay an extra $12?


So check your SAT scores online on May 22nd!

Getting an SAT test center

In some of the larger cities, registering late for the SAT has obvious disadvantages, since you may not get your first choice, second choice or even 3rd choice test center. In this case, unless you want to drive a few hours to a far away test center, you still have an option to take the SAT: stand by testing. You go early to the test center and wait if somebody does not show up, then you can pay the stand by testing fee and take the SAT or SAT subject tests at any test center you choose.