@Chrysanthemum14 Oh, I’ve never heard people refer to it as SAT 2.
@cityonanocean Did you understand what junior was saying, though? That’s not a valid reason.
Let me elaborate then. Allowing some people to keep the higher score they got because the sections for which they got 5 extra minutes on helped them = the whole exam becomes unstandardized.
Since when can we just pick and choose the score we like?
According to CB, the scores shouldn’t make a difference whether they include or exclude the two sections. So why don’t they present both? To me it looks like the individual score WILL be different whether they score the two sections or not. This will be especially true for those who are targeting high scores (2200+) where one or two wrong (or correct) questions could affect the score dramatically.
I agree with CB that if your expected score is somewhat lower (for example, 1700-1800), it may not make any difference
It wouldn’t be unfair if they present both scores but only allow people to keep the score that exludes the two unstandardized sections. But then the people who scored higher when the unstandardized sections are included would be furious.
I personally believe that throwing out the two sections OR having everyone retake would be the best solutions. However that second option is clearly not feasible, so I accept CB’s decision.
Doesn’t mean that I’m not, like others, disgusted by their neglect and failure to provide students with consistent and helpful responses though. I’ll consider the score we get this week to be accurate but I will definitely retake so that others don’t question it.
no they do not cancel ur scores @Wannabenerd1
Some schools look at all tests and take the best sections from each for evaluation for admission. Deleting this test if you request a free October retake would not be a fair decision on the College Board’s part.
I am new to this discussion and when I found out about this mess I emailed the CB and asked specific questions about how they are handling this; I asked about two sections not counting; etc and I have not been given any specific answers to my questions. I was given the run around in emails then I was told to call their customer service; which I did. When I called them I was told only one of the two sections was not going to be counted, not two. I questioned the person several times and he just kept saying, no only one section will not count, not two. I asked to speak to a supervisor and I was told the same thing. Out of the two sections (8 & 9) that are at issue, only one will not count, the other will. I asked how is it determined which section will not count, and she could not tell me or refused to tell me. I asked again, are you sure only one section will not count, I referred her to their web page which says two sections are going to be thrown out and she kept telling me I was wrong, misunderstood and only one of the two sections won’t count. So I am even more confused that I was when this first came out. Email said one thing, cust svc says another and their web site says something else. I don’t trust any of this at this point. I’m just concerned how this is going to affect my son and his college admission. I was also told by the cust svc supv. that they always delete/not grade one section every test anyway so this really doesn’t make a difference. I think they are making it up day by day and depending on what calls they get and questions that are asked.
Here is the latest I received from the CB regarding the escalated case that I requested just a few days after this whole thing came to light. I asked them for proof of their claims that tests can be reliably scored while missing two sections. I asked them if they had some kind of side by side table of anonymous tests that were scored completely intact and then again missing two sections. I also asked for my son to be registered for the October SAT at the same location he took it in June should he decide to take it again since having them register him was the only way to get the fee waived. Their response is below:
In producing equated scores, all of the available information, based on the questions a student has answered, is used to calculate their score in the 200-800 range. In the current situation we have fewer questions than usual on which to do this calculation, however the methodology for conducting this calculation is no different.
The SAT consists of three Tests: Reading, Writing, and Math – with each test having multiple sections. We have deliberately constructed each test to include three sections covering the same content with roughly the same level of difficulty. 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 when one of the three sections is unscored.
Because the June test administration is a undisclosed test administration, we will not be providing any additional score verification services.
Again, while we have determined that we are able to provide valid results for the June 2015 SAT administration, the student has been registered at no charge for the October 2015 SAT administration should he wish to retest. The student can review his registration via his online web account and print a copy of his admission ticket.
Additional information on how the SAT is scored can be reviewed here: https://sat.collegeboard.org/scores/how-sat-is-scored . This is still applicable even with sub sections 8 and 9 omitted. We are unable to provide the statistical algorithm used in equating as this information is proprietary.
Here, just in time for the scheduled June 25 release of test scores, is the latest update on the June 6 SAT timing/scoring fiasco from the International Business Times http://www.ibtimes.com/june-6-sat-mistake-complaints-continue-amid-debate-over-standardized-testing-1979996
@BCSurvivorMom I don’t know what to believe anymore either because although not explicitly stated, their website indicates that both sections 8 and 9 will be removed. At the same time, a large number of people have reported that when they called/emailed, they were told that only one section, depending on which version of the test you had, will be removed. I had my doubts about the calls, but the fact that they consistently told you that you that one section will be removed despite you making it clear that the website said otherwise is making me doubt the website.
I called them last week to ask the same question and a man who spoke broken english with a heavy accent was on the other line. When I asked the question, he gave me a general response that was completely irrelevant to the topic, so I kindly asked the question again. There was a brief pause (maybe 10 seconds long) and he literally began reading the notice on the website to me…word for word. He clearly had no idea what was going on.
@BCSurvivorMom I just got off the phone with them again and the woman I spoke with gave me the same very general response: “Some sections will not be scored but don’t worry, we will provide you with reliable scores.”
…I think we are all aware that some sections will not be scored, but thanks anyway…
I asked her the same question again in simpler terms and she kept saying that “we will provide you with reliable scores.” LOL haven’t heard that one before. She refused to answer my question so I just accepted her general response and hung up.
I don’t trust them at all.
The official notice on the College Board website (https://lp.collegeboard.org/information-regarding-the-saturday-june-6-sat-administration) explicitly states that two sections (“the last reading and the math sections”). The third Frequently Asked Question also states that two sections will not be scored ("How is it possible to not score two sections and still have valid scores?)
Well, I’m still confused and I really don’t think they know what they are doing or they are being told purposely to be cryptic. I’ve also filed a complaint with the Federal Dept of Education and the CA Dept of Education. When I emailed the CB asking them to clarify the responses and explanations I got after I got off the phone with the first person, who yes, didn’t speak English and was very hard to understand, and the second person I spoke to who was supposed to be a supervisor, I also advised them I was filing a complaint with the Feds and the State of CA. Don’t know if it will do much good but something needs to be done about this. Also, forgot to mention, the supervisor after repeating herself several times saying only one out of the two sections will not count, stated they “always”, every SAT test, don’t grade or don’t count one section anyway. I asked her to repeat what she said and she said that several times too. When I asked for an explanation of that and when I told her I found that hard to believe and had never heard that before, she just kept saying, there’s always one section of the SAT that isn’t counted/graded so this issue won’t be a problem. That was a new one to me. I think they are all lying and telling a different story depending on who calls and what questions are asked! It is absolutely unacceptable. I’m just not sure what to do. My son really doesn’t want to re-take it for a 3rd time. He’s a straight A student, did pretty well the first time; he just wanted to try to raise his scores a little because of the schools he is planning on applying to. But, this might really mess him and a lot of kids up!
@BCSurvivorMom I completely agree with you on how ridiculous this situation is. However, I think you are confused. Every SAT includes an experimental section that is not graded. This could be CR, Math or Writing. So, when the woman from CB told you that only one section will not be graded, she must have been talking about the experimental sections. Again, it is confusing and obnoxious, but you two were not on the same page.
@jschooter07, thank you for explaining that. I asked her several times what she meant about one section not counting or being graded and she compared that to this whole situation. She said specifically, the one section not being counted does not make a difference anyway because they always not count one section. Again, the supervisor could not clarify what she meant by that and just tried to talk around my questions and not answer them at all. She was very rude and basically tried to tell me I’m reading their web page updates on this wrong and that it doesn’t say two sections would not be graded, only one out of the two. She basically refused to listen and just kept talking in circles.
I called the College Board today to register my daughter for the free October 3rd SAT. I had a difficult time understanding the gentleman on the phone so I asked where he was located and he said the Philippines. It’s bothersome that the customer service phone calls go to Asia, I was expecting to speak with someone in New York…
^ I bet they hired temporary people to handle all the extra calls they are receiving. Using people outside the US is saving them money.
@BCSurvivorMom I agree with @jschooter07. The one section they are talking about it the experimental section where they test out potential questions on the students who are taking the test to determine their level of difficulty before putting them in a real section. The SAT is 10 sections long but there are only 3 subject areas scored… Critical Reading, Writing and Math. There are three sections of each of those subject areas. 3 X 3 is 9 so the 10th section is the unsecured experimental section. That has absolutely nothing to do with this issue and the CB customer service agents need to stop spouting that nonsense. The fact is that these tests are always only graded using 9 sections, but this June test will now be scored using only 7 sections. I’ve asked them to provide parents with proof that they can do that… reliably and ACCURATELY score them with only 7 sections and they keep saying the equivalent of “just trust us”. I’d still like to see proof.
@WaltzingM they have no proof and that’s the problem. The whole thing is just wrong and unfortunately the kids are the ones who are going to suffer and the CB isn’t taking any responsibility either.