Total or Average for Total/Composite

This option indicates whether the Recalculate Highest Test Scores process should use the average scores for the test elements when calculating all of the various Total/Composite scores or if the process should use the total score (i.e., the sum of all of the test element scores) to calculate the Total/Composite scores. (Example)

For example, assume that a student took the ACT two times and received the following scores:

Date

English

Math

Reading

Science

Sum of Scores

Avg. of Scores

(rounded to nearest whole number)

1/1/08

2/2/09

Also assume the following:

1. On the Edit Test Elements window, both the Highest for Tot/Compos and Average for Tot/Compos options are selected for the test code to calculate both the highest and the average scores for the Total/Composite test element for the Highest Test Scores calculations.

2. The Total for Test column is selected for all of the test elements, indicating that all of the test elements should be included in the calculations for the Total/Composite scores.

If the ACT Test code is defined with the Total for Total/Composite radio button selected, then the Total Composite Score for each test date of the specified test code will be calculated using the sum of the scores of the test elements and stored in TEST_SCORES.TOTAL_COMPOS_SCORE. This value is displayed on the Test Scores tab/window for each test. Additionally, the Highest Total/Composite score for the ACT test code (noted with a test element of *T/C on the Highest Test Scores tab/window) will have a Highest Test Score value of 95, which is the highest sum of the test element scores from a particular test date, and an Average Test Score of 94, which is the average of the sum of the scores for all test dates [in this case, it is (93+95)/2 rounded to the nearest whole number]. These Total Highest Test Scores values are saved to the HIGHEST_TST_SCORE and AVG_TST_SCORE columns in the HIGHEST_TEST_SCORE table.

If the ACT test code is defined with the Average for Total/Composite radio button selected, then the Total Composite Score for each test date of the specified test code will be calculated using the average of the scores of the test elements and stored in TEST_SCORES.TOTAL_COMPOS_SCORE. Also, the Highest Total/Composite score for the ACT test code (*T/C) will have a Highest Test Score value of 24, which is the highest average of the scores from a particular test date, and an Average Test Score of 24, which is the average of the average of the scores for all test dates [(23+24)/2 rounded to the nearest whole number]. These Average Highest Test Scores values are saved to the HIGHEST_TST_SCORE and AVG_TST_SCORE columns in the HIGHEST_TEST_SCORE table.

The Total for Total/Composite and Averages for Total/Composite radio button options also dictate how the highest score for the *BEST test element is calculated for a test code. In order for the *BEST highest test score row to be created for a test code, the test code must be defined with the Highest Element checkboxes selected and the Total for Test checkboxes selected for one or more test elements on the Edit Test Elements window. (Example)

For example, assume that a student took the ACT two times and received the following scores:

Date

English

Math

Reading

Science

Sum of Scores

Avg. of Scores

(rounded to nearest whole number)

1/1/08

2/2/09

Also assume that the Highest Element checkboxes are selected for all of the ACT test elements on the Edit Test Elements window. When the Recalculate Test Scores process is run, each test element will have a row recorded in the HIGHEST_TEST_SCORE table and displayed on the Highest Test Score tab/window. The Highest Test Score column will display the highest score received for each test element and the date of the test with the highest element score.

Test Code	Test Element	Highest Test Score	Date Taken
ACT	ACTEN	26	2/2/09
ACT	ACTMT	25	1/1/08
ACT	ACTRD	24	2/2/09
ACT	ACTSC	24	1/1/08

The Average Test Score column will contain values if the Average Element checkboxes are selected for the test elements on the Edit Test Elements window. However, they are not included in this example because they are not considered when calculating the *BEST value.

If the Total for Total/Composite radio button option is selected, the *BEST calculation will be a sum of the highest scores for each test element, resulting in a value of 99 (26 + 25 + 24 + 24).

If the Average for Total/Composite radio button option is selected, the *BEST calculation will be an average of the highest scores for each test element, resulting in a value of 25 [(26 + 25 + 24 + 24)/4] and rounded to the nearest whole number.

The *BEST value will be stored in the HIGHEST_TEST_SCORE table in the HIGHEST_TST_SCORE column and displayed in the Highest Test Score column on the Highest Test Score tab/window.