Question about Raw vs Scaled Scores Forum

[StaceyS]

I was wondering if anyone could explain to me how the scale works. I've heard a lot that the bar exam is scaled 10-15 points.

Let's say for example that the scale is 15.

Does that mean that every raw score has 15 added to it? Or is it curved in such a way that if your raw score is lower you may get 15 but if your raw is higher you may get an additional say 5.

Or would we all get the same 15 points added?

In other words...do we all get to add the same amount?

Thanks in advance! *I'm stressing here*

Stacey

[NY_Sea]

I was wondering if anyone could explain to me how the scale works. I've heard a lot that the bar exam is scaled 10-15 points.

Let's say for example that the scale is 15.

Does that mean that every raw score has 15 added to it? Or is it curved in such a way that if your raw score is lower you may get 15 but if your raw is higher you may get an additional say 5.

Or would we all get the same 15 points added?

In other words...do we all get to add the same amount?

Thanks in advance! *I'm stressing here*

Stacey

The way it's been explained to me, it's a little bit of both. There is a scale aspect to it, where they just add points to your score and that's your scaled, but there's also a curve aspect to it where the higher raw you get, the less points your raw is "scaled" (presumably because you don't need it?).

Don't know if that makes sense, but that's how I interpret it after having it explained to me.

[THE_U]

http://excessofdemocracy.com/blog/2015/ ... than-usual

Really good explanation of how the scale works. From what I understand, there is no "curve" in the usual sense of the word (like in law school). The exam is scaled so that it matches the difficulty of previous exams basically, unlike a curve.

Basically, every MBE has a set of questions that are pretty constant from exam to exam, called "anchor" questions or "equators." There are also "unique" questions on each exam. If group A and B take two different bar exams, score the same/similar on the equators, but B scores worse on the unique questions, B most likely had a harder exam and the NCBE adds points to make their scores the same as Group A.

[StaceyS]

Thank you so much for the replies.

I wonder how the scale usually compass from February vs July...

[BVest]

Thank you so much for the replies.

I wonder how the scale usually compass from February vs July...

Because of normalization, it shouldn't vary except to the extent that the particular set of questions is easier or harder than usual. But that doesn't follow a July/February pattern.

But here are some past examples.
http://www.seperac.com/zcalc-mbe-febjuly.php

[StaceyS]

The_U...that link you gave was amazing. Wow that was a great explanation of the scoring. Thank you!

BVest...thanks! Checking that link out now.