Q: How many high school students received a perfect score on the college SAT test in 2006?

A: 238, or approximately .016 percent of the 1.5 million students who took it, according to College Board, the organization that administers the test.

Sam Peterson

This year, Chaska High School junior Sam Peterson added his name to the list of those having received perfect scores on the SAT test.

“Tests are fun for me,” said Peterson. “The SAT was more fun the first time I took it, but overall, I still like a good challenge.”

A perfect score on the SAT test is 2,400, with 800 each from the critical reading, math and writing portions. Peterson didn’t have a single incorrect multiple choice problem, although he did lose a few points on the writing essay portion.

“I guess my overall writing score was good enough to stay at the 800 level,” he said.

Peterson took the SAT in March, after taking the ACT in February, on which he received a 35 out of 36.

“I was very satisfied with the ACT results,” he said. “I think that helped me on the SAT because there was less stress to do well.”

Scores are available online about three weeks after the test and Peterson was checking his home computer at 6 a.m. that day.

“I couldn’t wait for the day to see my results, but then when it got close, I started thinking I didn’t want to,” he said. “The first thing I saw was my essay score, but when I saw the overall score, I let out a little scream.”

A perfect score was not necessarily his goal, said Peterson. “I’m very self-driven to improve what I love,” he said. “I guess I know I’m capable of doing well on these tests, so I feel I should do well.”

‘Rare gift’

Peterson has a history of performing well on college preparatory tests. He first took it as a seventh-grader, when there was no writing section, and recorded a 570 in reading and 590 for math. Yearly averages for all Minnesota students are typically around 500 for both subjects.

He took the SAT again as a sophomore, with scores ranging from 700 to 730 for all three sections.

Unfortunately, he has no secret tips to pass along on test preparation.

“Many people assume a high score is the result of hours of studying a bulk of facts,” said Peterson. “In reality, it’s mostly an assessment of your ability to understand passages, apply math theorems to a variety of situations and notice grammatical errors.”

“I have a rare gift that allows me to do those things very well,” he said, “but I also do the practice tests and go over the Princeton Review preparation materials.”

His test-taking methods do fly in the face of recommendation, though.

“I know the guidebooks say to skip any questions you have a problem with,” said Peterson. “But I feel I need to answer every one, so I take them in order, one at a time.”

There is one routine he adheres to with college admissions tests.

“Break time is always granola bars and green tea,” said Peterson.

He said there are many whose support has been invaluable, starting with his parents.

“They encourage me in general about school, but I set the bar for myself and they help me get there,” he said. “I’ve been extremely blessed to encounter a number of coaches, teachers and others who’ve helped me employ my talents, push myself to my limits and encouraged me to achieve things like this.”

Harvard

The SAT is designed to assess how well students analyze and solve problems, giving colleges a measure of their critical thinking skills.

Peterson has not yet chosen a college or specific degree program.

“I’ve always dreamed of going to Harvard,” he said. “But I’m not to the point where I would absolutely go if I am admitted.”Law school is currently at the top of his list. “I’d like to go to college and figure out what to do from some of the classes I take,” he said.

Peterson knows there’s more to college than a perfect SAT score. “Some people think this means I get a full-ride (scholarship) to wherever I want to go,” he said. “In fact, every year schools in the Ivy League or Stanford turn down students with perfect SAT scores.”

He enjoys academic competitions like the Quiz and Knowledge Bowls, or Academic WorldQuest and was a member of the cross country team that advanced to state last year.

“Cross country is fun, because I’m not the best one out there,” said Peterson. “Several guys on the team are faster than me and I enjoy knowing there is room for improvement.”

-- By Chuck Friedbauer