College Board Error on June 6, 2015 SAT?

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
361

I just love how some students (and parents) are trying to make this out to be a conspiracy that will ruin their child’s HYPSM dreams.

At least they didn’t cut off the wrong leg…

If my kid was a “victim” of this, and it was his first time taking the SAT, I’d relax and not worry.

If my kid took it as a retake, I’d be more upset, but just wait and see.

What I expect in the longer run is for there to be a class-action lawsuit by parents to get a “free-sitting”.

Note there are always “extra questions” that are not scored, so someone can get those questions wrong and get a perfect score.

362

I just love how people think it is OK to have Standardized test, not be … uh, I don’t know… standard?

*** and asking a money making business to prove itself by releasing both scores seems reasonable to me if there is nothing to hide. I don’t see how they are playing “victims” in any way nor making it out to be a conspiracy of any sort. It is called transparency. When there is nothing to hide… then they should not have a problem showing them their true score and the score that will be used for college. Is there a reason to hide it from them if they have mathematical evidence to prove their decision?

363

@momofsmartdancer Very interesting . . .
I agree that CB should do that study because they can’t just claim that these test scores are “reliable” with no documented proof. There would be no way for the public to asses how reliable these “new scores” are if an objective study is not done or if both scores are not released.

CB cannot just predict an individuals score on a section based on previous sections. They claim that each section has roughly the same difficulty but the level of difficulty of questions is subjective. It is completely possible to miss 4 questions on one section and 0 questions on another.

364

There’s a section of the press release that confuses me.

“To accommodate the wide range of incidents that can impact a testing experience, the SAT is designed to collect enough information to provide valid and reliable scores even with an additional unscored section. From fire drills and power outages to mistiming and disruptive behavior, school-based test administrations can be fragile, so our assessments are not.”

It says “an additional unscored section” as in one, singular section taken out of the exam. But CB has said two sections will not be scored, which exceeds the amount they admit the test does not require.

I didn’t take this SAT, so it doesn’t affect me, but I was just wondering how the test can be scored with two absent sections, which does not match what CB says can be accurately reported?

365

CB was initially going to exclude only one of the two sections, but later, after further review, decided to remove both. The message simply represents this revision, as they’re clearly not saying that one unscored section is the absolute threshold for reliability. In other words, CB isn’t necessarily saying that valid and reliable scores cannot be delivered with multiple unscored sections.

366

If you tested “with accommodations” you don’t ever get an experimental section. CB has not said it will replace any section with the score of the experimental section.

367

Most, if not all of the SAT is open for analysis by qualified researchers and the results are routinely published. If you had even passing knowledge of the test structure, you would know that what they are saying is very likely true. Only a portion of the test is needed for the very same analysis that is done every time.

Instead of leveling baseless accusations, maybe it’s just a good idea to wait and see how this turns out. If you are not capable of analyzing the test’s history and workings, I am sure there are other folks who will be doing it in the future.

368

@JustOneDad … classic “you would know that what they are saying is VERY LIKELY TRUE”… that there is the problem… it is either true or not… very likely doesn’t work for most people. There are no baseless accusations… people are asking them to show the scores… why would that be an issue for the individual to see both of their own scores? Why are you so angry about having them release the scores to those who took them? Do you work for them?

369

“Doesn’t changing the criteria for scoring make it invalid in concept?”
“However, if they do not provide both scores… there is a VERY good reason not to do so.”
“They have something to hide.”
“That does not seem then that these scores will be “standardized” against past and future SAT test takers.”
“The more I read, the more it smells like the Fox guarding the Hen house.”
“Why are you so angry about …”

370

@JustOneDad asking questions and not taking claims of a money making company at face value is a good thing in my opinion. You may or may not agree. They are in the business to make money, if they weren’t than they would not exist. They do not do this for free nor out of good will.

You may take their word at face value and that is great, but I am not sure that I am willing to do that without them showing some evidence. One way is to show the scores to those who took them. I don’t see the harm in that if they are certain the scores calculated for each individual will be the same with 4 sections not 6. What harm would that cause if the analysis by proven researchers show that 4 sections are all that is needed?

If however the scores are off then yes… releasing that information would absolutely cause a huge problem for a money making business. Their product and reputation would be compromised. I don’t think it is unreasonable to not just take their word for it because they said so. you can disagree and that is fine with me. :slight_smile:

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MODERATOR’S NOTE:
@lolly199 @JustOneDad Agree to disagree and move on please.

372

I think the college board should be held to a higher standard for these tests
How can the booklet have a misprint - does no one proof-read these booklets ahead of time
Just one Dad makes light of it and that statistically all fine - then there should be no problem with releasing both scores
My daughter also had only 20 minutes as her proctor knew was only to be 20 minutes
She will be a senior and was planning on her first and only test.
As I understand it - the next test isn’t until October and she has no desire to take it again at that time
She has taken numerous practice tests and has consistent scores - if this score is not similar - I am going to assume test not “reliable”
Also - why are there 6 sections when 4 are apparently sufficient?

373

I wrote my test in Canada? Will my score also be removed or is it just applicable to those who wrote their SAT in the US?

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@ScreenName999 just those who took the test on the U.S.

375

@JustOneDad has so much confidence in the reliability of these new SAT scores purely because CB claims that they are reliable. He (or she) acts like this is a trivial little incident. This is a tremendous issue. This test can significantly impact people’s futures, and the fact that a misprint, which could have been easily detected beforehand can jeopardize our scores is highly upsetting and frightening to say the least.
@schaefse It is insane that they have a misprint in the directions for a test that has been administered for decades…absolutely insane.

376

@rhandco

“I just love how some students (and parents) are trying to make this out to be a conspiracy that will ruin their child’s HYPSM dreams.”

At least they didn’t cut off the wrong leg…

If my kid was a “victim” of this, and it was his first time taking the SAT, I’d relax and not worry.

If my kid took it as a retake, I’d be more upset, but just wait and see.

What I expect in the longer run is for there to be a class-action lawsuit by parents to get a “free-sitting”.

Note there are always “extra questions” that are not scored, so someone can get those questions wrong and get a perfect score."

No-for many this is not about " HYPSM dream"

For us this is about scholarship money. And time.

Our plan was for child to take SAT ONE TIME! Not multiple times.

Our child did well on ACT taken in middle school, so the intent was to take that test a couple of times.

Our child is a rising senior and has little time left for re-take.

Time is tight and some people either don’t want to take the SAT multiple times or can’t take it multiple times.

Our child is committed to doing 25+ hours of extracurricular activity and also does multiple AP courses.

My child stays up most nights until 3 AM, completing homework after extracurricular activities.

“What I expect in the longer run is for there to be a class-action lawsuit by parents to get a free sitting”

---------------------DISAGREE---------------------

I think any class action lawsuit would focus on getting refund of test fees since test takers had reasonable expectation that this test would have same format as those in the past and an error was made by CB. Even without a lawsuit, test takers can file dispute with their credit card company.

We do not want a re-scheduled free test.

CB should either provide score info on all sections or give refund because that was what test takers thought they would get when they made payment.

377

Who care if the students had 5 extra min… My goodness, the got up early came to take test and sat for 4 1/2 hours of test and the are going to worry about 5 mins. this is so ridiculas. Just correct the test and give the students the results

378

they cannot rescind the scores can they?

379

Every student has a unique circumstance with taking the test (1st time, 2nd, last, for scholarship, etc). This was my sons (incoming Senior) last attempt before applying for college August 1st. He’d just completed his month long prep course, several days a week…3 hours a night. So, this SAT presumably would’ve been his best shot. I WANT the results from ALL sections, along with their revised results (minus8&9). Otherwise… They’ll ALWAYS be the “what if?” looming in our minds. His testing center abided with the 20 min rule- so it should be a mute point. So done with this stress already.

380

@JustOneDad I don’t think you understand the magnitude of this situation and the impact it will have on college-bound students. To be honest, you’re coming off as a bit pompous and are way too defensive of College Board’s actions.

“It’s called a mistake. They happen.”

When an entity which claims to measure intelligence is so negligent as to print thousands of test booklets containing an error, it is not simply a mistake.

Let me ask you this:

  1. did they offer the SAT for free? Did we not have to pay for the test to take it?
  2. as customers, are we not entitled to getting the entirety of the product for which we have paid?
  3. as customers, test takers, and college-bound students, do we not have a right to see our ACTUAL scores and not these presumably “accurate” ones that CB will be releasing?
  4. when something as important as this is at stake–and when people have paid $50+ to take the test–how can the CB allow such a mistake to happen in the first place?

Consider those before you make your next reply please.