What type of test score is the number of points earned on a test?

• A. Percent score
• B. Raw score
• C. Standard score
• D. Percentile rank

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is what raw score represents: the actual number of points earned on a test. A raw score is simply the tally of points you accumulate, without converting it to a percentage, a deviation-based score, or a rank in the distribution. For example, if a test is out of 50 points and you earn 38, your raw score is 38. Other score types re-express that same achievement in different ways: a percent score would be 38 divided by 50 (76%), a standard score places you relative to the distribution (like a z-score or T-score), and a percentile rank shows how you compare to others. Since the question asks for the numeric count of points earned, the raw score is the appropriate choice.