College Board Error on June 6, 2015 SAT?

Just as an FYI to everyone… according to their latest tweet (so take it for what it’s worth) they will be providing score verification services for this test, but not the two eliminated sections.

@WaltzingM from what I saw, score verification is available, not necessarily being provided unless of course you play for it. And none at all for the unscored sections.

The College Board ‏@CollegeBoard 2h2 hours ago
@KatieNCurran Yes, score verification service is available for the June 6, but will not be offered for the unscored sections.

@MuggleMom Sorry. Didn’t mean to indicate with my comment that they were providing it free of charge. I’m sure they are still charging for it.

@lolly199 - DS said that he doesn’t think he had any open ended math questions on the unscored section. Which is why I wish that section had been included…

@MichiganGeorgia - so then there is a difference in the Math sections that will be included and the section being tossed? Open ended questions are being scored but the multiple choice thrown out? I wonder how that will skew results since you can’t guess on Open- ended…

I still say every test taker should be given the original score and the new skewed score. Proof that the new score is valid as they claim. If they don’t release both there is a reason. They have something to hide.

@lolly199 There is always one math section out of the three that has some multiple choice and some write-in answers. The other two are multiple choice questions only. My son says that the final math section on this test (which for him was section 9) was a multiple choice only section. The section with the write-in portion had come earlier.

None of the sections removed would be grid-in. The grid-in section is a 25 minute section. The Math section at the end is always a 20 minute section- (the one with 16 questions.)

@lolly199 - The SAT test is suppose to have 10 open ended questions and 44 multiple choice. They are throwing out 16 multiple choice questions so instead there are 28 multiple choice. My feeling is that this test is harder to get a great score because instead of 18.5% of the test being open ended 35.7% of it is open ended. My son went in with no prep and I told him not to answer any questions unless he knew the answer and then afterwards I found out that wrong answer to open ended questions don’t count against you…anyway there were a couple open ended questions he didn’t answer because he wasn’t completely sure of. Luckily he is a rising Junior so he can take the test again in October plus he is taking the ACT on Saturday. However for the rising seniors this whole thing is awful.

That does not seem then that these scores will be “standardized” against past and future SAT test takers. Not sure how these scores are valid at all.

What kind of business standard is the College Board held to I wonder? If they are not going to release both scores to prove the skewed results are accurate than how does anyone know they are not getting a bait and switch product. Isn’t that illegal? I wonder if anyone is looking at this from outside of a parental/student standpoint?

Does anyone remember if that reading passage about the quartz was the last reading section or the one before it? Thx!

@lonetreegrad and @lolly199 Exactly. If they claim that the new scores are so “reliable,” then CB should without hesitation display both scores. My main request is that I see how I truly performed that day. I took the test under the standard conditions, so I do not see how a mistake that gave some other test takers a slight advantage could influence my score.

@JustOneDad While it is true that mistakes do happen, this is something that is crucial to college admissions and should not be taken lightly. There should be no need to demand invalidation. I should not have to invalidate my scores just because CB failed to accurately define testing conditions. I should be reported with the score I earned, since I did indeed take the test under the official conditions.

Your statement about confidence is irrelevant to this argument. It is simply illogical to provide someone with an alternate score when he was allotted the official number of minutes to complete each section. I took the test just as any others who took it prior to June 6, but I am not being provided with my true score as they were.

Their twitter now says BOTH sections 8 and 9 thrown out for all.

I assume the NEW SAT going forward after this will only be 4 sections from now on? College Board has stated publicly that only 4 sections are needed for a reliable score… so there should not be 6 going forward… what would be the purpose of that? The more I read, the more it smells like the Fox guarding the Hen house.

I am really surprise the scores are not being thrown out all together. I know that would be very upsetting to test takers, but I would not trust a money making business trying to protect itself if they won’t release both scores. I do wish you all the best though. It is an awful situation for you all in what must be an already stressful time.

Here’s the CB’s response:

Thank you for contacting the College Board.

We have received your e-mail regarding your June 6th SAT. We will be happy to provide you with the following information.

After a comprehensive review and statistical analysis, the College Board and ETS have determined that the last reading and last math sections will not be scored, and that we will still be able to provide reliable scores for all students who took the SAT on June 6. We expect to deliver scores within the usual time frame.

Colleges and universities will know these scores are valid.

For further information or assistance, please feel free to call us at 1 (866) 756-7346 (Domestic), 1 (212) 713-7789 (International), Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) or visit us at www.collegeboard.org.

Thank You,

Wait someone clarify this for me…
I got an email saying that the CB will cancel EITHER section 8 or 9, depending on the one that had 25 mins. Does anyone remember which was the screw up the math or reading?

Ik it depends on the edition, but they aren’t canceling both?

Has this problem ever happened before? It was just my luck that I signed up for this test date…

Rea; Validity of Tests
From
Standardized tests: Test reliability

"As with other research procedures and tools, reliability and validity are major considerations when using
 standardized tests and inventories.

Test reliability

The reliability of a test refers to stability of measurement over time. When a person's data entry skills are   
measured on two occasions (with no special training in between), the two sets of scores should be similar. 
Reliability is often measured with a reliability coefficient, which is simply a correlation between sets of scores 
from people who have been given the test on two occasions (X = first time score on the test, Y = second time 
score on the test) - see the correlation module for review.

There are three (3) ways to measure the reliability of a test or inventory: Test-retest, Split-half, and Alternate 
forms.


(1) Split-half - after being taken by a sample, the answers to the test are divided into two halves (e.g., the 
odd-numbered versus the even-numbered items). Scores on each half are correlated. If the test is reliable, the 
scores on the two halves should show a high positive reliability coefficient (correlation).

(2) Test-retest - the same test is given to the same people on two occasions. The scores are correlated, and if the
 reliability coefficient is positive and high, the test is reliable.

(3) Alternate forms - two versions of the test are constructed, and given to the same people on two occasions. 
Scores on the two forms should show a high positive reliabilty coefficient (correlation). "

Based on the first measure of reliability mentioned above, it seems that what might verify the reliability of their method of not scoring two sections is to go through past tests and do the same for those tests (omitting two sections) and see if the resulting score is the same for those score testers with two sections removed and two sections not removed.

CB should do this study and make the results public and verified by an objective third party that is appointed by someone other than the College Board.

@lolly199
"I agree @lonetreegrad if the College Board and others feel it really is not that big of deal then the College Board she release the full original Score and the skewed new score created with the new scoring and if they don’t make a difference than they should have no qualms of being fully transparent.

However, if they do not provide both scores… there is a VERY good reason not to do so. Do not forget this is big business… MONEY always rules decisions. Always."

I agree. I think it is only a matter of time before some attorneys smell big money and file a class action law suit.

I would just like these students to get a fair and equal chance compared to all other SAT test takers. I am extremely surprised that someone in a position of power is not demanding transparency from a money making business that is basically regulating itself with no proof to back it up. These students should trust them… because they said so… really? Prove it. Release both scores to each and every student that took the test on that date. THAT is the proof… nothing short of that.

If they can’t provide hard proof then provide an option for a free retest. Why is this even being discussed at this point. They need to eat the profit loss, that is part of doing business when you fail to provide what you sell.

@NickMath23
CR had the error but they are cancelling both.

“The time allotted for the last reading section was incorrect in the student test books but correct in the script and manual provided to test center supervisors. The copy in the student test books indicated “25 minutes” while the manual and script indicated the correct time limit of “20 minutes.” Because of the way the SAT is administered, while the misprint appeared in the last reading section, students may have been taking the last math section in the same room at the same time, and also would be affected.”

“After a comprehensive review and statistical analysis, the College Board and ETS have determined that the last reading and last math sections will not be scored,”