Score Conversion & Target-Gate Calculator

Near the top, points get expensive: 1450→1600 is only ~4 percentile points but a huge share of the work — almost all of it error-elimination, not new content. This doc converts the score scale into honest expectations and a checkpoint-gate framework you fill in from your diagnostic.

Sources: College Board (equating, scale); percentile data (Larry Learns, PrepScholar, MySatCoach). Note: there is no fixed raw→scaled table — conversion is form-dependent via equating.

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#HOW SCORING REALLY WORKS

• 400–1600 total = two 200–800 sections (R&W, Math), each in 10-point steps.
• Equated, not curved: raw scores convert to scaled scores in a way that adjusts for form difficulty, so scores are comparable across sittings.
• Adaptive ceiling: the easier Module-2 path caps a section below 800; only the harder path reaches the top (see Adaptive-Engine Decode).
• No published "miss X = 800" rule — form-dependent. Plan for zero misses, especially in Module 1.

#PERCENTILE CONTEXT (approximate, current)

1600      ≈ 99.9th  (top ~0.1%; only a few hundred per year)
1550–1590 ≈ 99th
1500–1540 ≈ ~98–99th
1400      ≈ ~94th
1300      ≈ ~86th
1200      ≈ ~74th

Diminishing returns: the middle of the scale is where points are cheapest (a 1200→1350 jump moves you many percentiles). Above ~1400, remaining points come from eliminating a small number of specific errors — one or two misses per section can cost 30–50 points. This is exactly what the Error Log + Careless-Error modules attack.

#YOUR TARGET (honest)

• Primary, high-probability: 1500+.
• Strong stretch: 1550–1590 (careless errors → near-zero).
• The reach: 1600 (near-flawless day + the Oct re-sit as a second roll).
• Math 800 is realistic given your A-Levels; R&W gets the early time tilt.

#THE CHECKPOINT-GATE FRAMEWORK (fill from your diagnostic)

Set a rising floor each checkpoint. Replace the example (≈1250 start) with your real baseline:

How to set the gates: take your baseline, add realistic increments (front-load the gains — points come faster early). Gates that slip = re-weight toward the leaking section, not panic. The Progress Tracker automates this.

#DIAGNOSE

• Section stuck just below a round number (e.g., 690)? Likely a Module-1-accuracy ceiling, not content. Fix: Module-1 protection + careless elimination.
• Total flat but a section rising? Re-balance time toward the flat section.

#REFERENCE CARD — SCORE & GATES

400–1600 (two 200–800), equated not curved. No fixed raw→scaled table; plan for 0 misses (esp. Module 1).
Percentiles: 1600≈99.9 · 1550≈99 · 1500≈98–99 · 1400≈94 · 1300≈86.
Points cheapest mid-scale; above 1400 = error-elimination. Target: 1500+ primary, 1550–1600 stretch.
GATES: baseline → +120–140 by Wk4 → +220–240 by Wk7 → within ~40 of goal by Wk9. Slip = re-weight.

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MERIDIAN · SIGNAL · SCORE CONVERSION & TARGET-GATE CALCULATOR | v1.0