This article provides an explanation of test raw scores, their uses and limitations.
A raw score is the sum of the number of score points achieved by a student on a test. Usually
the maximum raw score corresponds to the number of items (questions), but some complex items can
attract more than one score point for a correct answer.
In a learning area, different tests have different levels of difficulty. For example, for most linear PAT assessments, Test 1 is the easiest and Test 10 is the hardest. The number of items on different tests also varies. This means that it is not possible to compare raw scores between tests. For example, if a student obtained a raw score of 25 on PAT Reading 5th Edition Test 4, and another student scored 22 on PAT Reading 5th Edition Test 6, which student demonstrates the greater level of achievement? It is not possible to tell unless we look at the students’ scale scores.
Related article: Scale scores and achievement bands
Every raw score corresponds to a scale score on the corresponding assessment or learning area scale. The scale scores make comparisons between tests possible. Scale scores align to descriptions of achievement or ability that apply regardless of the difficulty of the test or the age of the test-taker. Score conversion tables are available for some assessments to show how raw scores relate to the scale scores for each test, while online reports automatically calculate scale scores.
Percentile rankings indicate how a student performed relative to others. A percentile rank of 85 means the student scored better than 85% of the test-takers in the comparison group.
Related article:
In essence, while raw scores are a helpful starting point, they are limited in scope. Scale scores and percentile rankings provide a more nuanced and fair representation of student performance, especially in large-scale or high-stakes assessments.