What does a raw score on a test represent?

A raw score on a test quantifies the actual performance of an individual by indicating the total number of points they earned. This score is simply the sum of correct answers or points awarded for responses, without any adjustments or transformations. It serves as the foundational metric from which further interpretations—such as percentiles or standard scores—are derived.

Raw scores are important because they provide a straightforward indication of achievement in a specific context, such as a test or assessment. However, unlike percentiles or scaled scores, which place this performance in relation to a normative sample or across different testing scenarios, raw scores do not provide information about how a student's performance compares to that of their peers or the average performance of all test takers. This means that while raw scores are essential for measuring individual performance, they lack the context provided by comparative metrics.