ETS Score Interpretation 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following best describes how ETS equating works across different test administrations?
- It converts raw scores to letter grades
- It adjusts scaled scores so that equal scores reflect equal ability regardless of test form difficulty (Correct answer)
- It ranks all test-takers from highest to lowest performance
- It recalculates the number of correct answers needed to pass
Correct answer: It adjusts scaled scores so that equal scores reflect equal ability regardless of test form difficulty
Equating is a statistical process that ensures a given scaled score represents the same level of ability across different test forms and administrations.
Question 2: For the GRE Subject Tests, scores are reported on what scale?
- 130–170
- 100–200
- 200–990 (Correct answer)
- 0–100
Correct answer: 200–990
GRE Subject Test scores are reported on a 200–990 scale in 10-point increments.
Question 3: A graduate program requires a minimum GRE Quantitative score at the 75th percentile. If the cut score is 163, what does this tell you about the applicant pool?
- 25% of test-takers scored 163 or higher (Correct answer)
- 75% of test-takers scored 163 or higher
- 163 is the average score of admitted students
- 25% of applicants were rejected based on this score alone
Correct answer: 25% of test-takers scored 163 or higher
A 75th percentile score means the test-taker scored higher than 75% of the norm group, so only 25% scored at or above that level.
Question 4: How long are official GRE General Test scores valid for graduate school applications?
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 5 years (Correct answer)
- 10 years
Correct answer: 5 years
ETS GRE scores are valid and reportable for five years after the test date.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of subscores reported on ETS tests like the TOEFL iBT?
- To penalize guessing on individual sections
- To provide diagnostic information about specific skill areas (Correct answer)
- To create a single composite score for admissions
- To rank test-takers within their country of origin
Correct answer: To provide diagnostic information about specific skill areas
Subscores give targeted diagnostic information about performance in specific skill domains, helping institutions and test-takers identify strengths and weaknesses.
Question 6: When ETS reports a score with ScoreSelect, what does the test-taker control?
- Which essay prompts are graded
- Which test date's scores are sent to institutions (Correct answer)
- How percentile ranks are calculated
- The number of score recipients
Correct answer: Which test date's scores are sent to institutions
ScoreSelect allows GRE test-takers to choose which test date's scores (Most Recent or All) to send to designated institutions.
Question 7: A TOEFL iBT Speaking score of 24 out of 30 places a test-taker in which performance level?
- Limited
- Fair
- Good
- Advanced (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Advanced
ETS classifies TOEFL iBT Speaking scores of 24–30 in the Advanced performance level.
ETS Score Interpretation 3
Which of the following best describes how ETS equating works across different test administrations?