Does coaching raise SAT scores? Because many students score higher on a second try, even without coaching, a study looked at a simple random sample of 4200 students who took the SAT twice. Of these, 500 had taken coaching courses between their two attempts at the SAT. The study compared the average increase in scores (out of the total possible score of 2400) for students who were coached with the average increase for students who were not coached.
The report of the SAT study says, "With 95 percent confidence, one can say that students who are coached raise their average SAT scores by between 28 and 57 points more than students who are not coached." By "95 percent confidence," the report means that:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The statement means that if the study were repeated many times, 95 percent of the time the interval of 28 to 57 points would include the true average increase in scores for the whole population of students who take coaching courses between their two attempts at the SAT. This is a statistical definition of confidence interval. Choice A is too strong because it assumes that all students will benefit equally from coaching. Choice B is incorrect because it does not take into account the comparison between coached and uncoached students. Choice D is irrelevant since the statement is based on statistical inference, not public opinion.

Does Coaching Raise SAT Scores? Because Many Students Score Higher