State Scholar Selection Process

ISAC obtains student data from high schools for those students in the top 50% of the class at the end of the sixth semester on the HSSP 6th Semester Academic Information Roster. The State Scholar formula calculation uses a combination of the test scores, class rank, and class size obtained from the roster . 

A student must take either the ACT or SAT exam during the student’s third or fourth semester prior to high school graduation. The designated period for a 2012-13 Scholar to have taken the ACT or SAT exam was between September 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011.

A student may take either or both examinations during the designated period. All scores from the ACT or SAT exam taken during the designated period must be submitted to ISAC.  Scores are sent to ISAC in August of each year. If a student submits scores from more than one College Entrance Examination taken during the designated period, ISAC will use the highest of the scores. ISAC will accept supplementary score reports of exams taken between September 1, 2010 and
June 30, 2011, upon the student’s authorization to the test service.

The formula used in the selection of Illinois State Scholars is as follows:

1. Test scores are converted to an Illinois Standard Test Score (ISTS) as follows:
   • The SAT Reasoning Test: critical reading (CR) and math (M) scores are added together and converted to the equivalent ACT (American College Testing) Score. Refer to the official ACT-SAT Concordance [SAT Critical Reading + Math (score range)] table to obtain the converted equivalent ACT Score.
   • The ACT Score becomes the ISTS.
2. High school class ranks are converted to an Illinois Standard Rank Score (ISRS)
   • The percentile of the class rank for each student is determined: 
     
     Percentile = Size of class MINUS (rank in class minus .5) divided by Class Size
     • The table below is used to convert a percentile class rank to the ISRS.
       
       

       Percentile	ISRS
       99.75 - 99.99	30
       99.54 - 99.74	29
       99.19 - 99.53	28
       98.62 - 99.18	27
       97.73 - 98.61	26
       96.42 - 97.72	25
       94.53 - 96.41	24
       91.93 - 94.52	23
       88.50 - 91.92	22
       84.14 - 88.49	21
       78.82 - 84.13	20
       72.58 - 78.81	19
       65.55 - 72.57	18
       57.94 - 65.54	17
       50.00 - 57.93	16

          
3. An Illinois Weighted Selection Score (WSS) for each student is computed by adding the Illinois Standard Test Score to the Illinois Standard Rank Score.
   • Example:
     
     Illinois Standard Test Score (ISTS) = 25
     Illinois Standard Rank Score (ISRS)= 24
     
     25 + 24 = WSS of 49 
      
4. A WSS cutoff is determined by ISAC. Students with an ISTS of 30 or higher are automatically designated as State Scholars. Students with an ISTS lower than 30 but have a WSS greater than or equal to the cutoff score of 49 are also designated as State Scholars.