<p>I took the SAT for the first time last Saturday, and so I didn't know what exactly to expect while taking the test. When one section ended and another started, my proctor would just scream "Stop!" and "Start!", giving us no time to take out our calculators for a math section, put away our calculators, or even just BREATHE. Yes, we got a few 5 minute breaks in between, but otherwise it was just like stop! start! stop! start! I might retake the SAT, and so I would like to know whether this is completely normal so that I can prepare myself for taking the test that way!
thanks!</p>
<p>I can’t tell whether you’re exaggerating or not 
It might just have been nerves, but if not that sounds a little extreme.</p>
<p>I’m not kidding; I’m serious. That’s exactly how it went, and it also scared the heck out of me every time she screamed. So I’m guessing that’s not how it’s supposed to go then?</p>
<p>No definitely not! Their job is to administer the test fairly not be screaming at you the whole time D: You should definitely re-take if you think your score was lower because of that.</p>
<p>I’m just waiting for scores now and then I’ll decide if I should retake, ugh. Just my luck to get an awful proctor AND an awful test center.</p>
<p>Yeah, that sounds off- my proctor gave us a 5 min warning before each section ended, and we had a few seconds in-between. Regardless, I took a 5-hour energy as the test started so I was ready to go throughout the whole thing : ). Did the same for AP testing-- even in the 5th hour I had enough energy to go out and dunk a few water bottles (bah, if only I could palm the ball well!).</p>
<p>You might as well be prepared to start simultaneously though, because the difference is only going to be a few seconds. Having already taken it you are much more capable of being ready that quickly though since you know what’s happening. GL on your retake- maybe even use the summer to study and do way better than you would have done if you had the perfect proctor : ).</p>
<p>It should be like a minute in between, when the proctor reads: “That is the end of Section… We will now begin section… If you have a math section, please take out your calculator… Remember, you can only have a calculator on desk if you have a math section… If you get Student-Response Grid in questions, please follow the given directions… You may now start section…”</p>
<p>I feel your pain, although my proctor wasn’t that bad. My friend did tell me though, when she took the SAT in May, her proctor would just scream ‘stop’ out of nowhere. My proctor would tell us when we had five minutes left, but the way he said ‘stop’ in such a loud, terse voice made me jump out of my chair a little. I guess we just all have to try to prepare ourselves for it. Good luck though, if you decide to take the test again.</p>
<p>Definitely sounds a bit extreme. Try a different test center.</p>
<p>I’m going to sit for the SAT this August …maybe…but then after several exercises I found all sections are difficult. esp when it comes to writing…I usually don’t have ideas and just simply write. One more think I’ve read some good essays…and oh!! they were really good…actually i impressed because of the outstanding words that they used…oh yeah!! i just wanna ask…how about I write about Lady D as the example??</p>
<p>@lipstick The one thing that I have against the Internet is that I can’t always easily distinguish between sarcasm and seriousness. Your post falls into this type of issue. If you’re not aware of it yet, by the way, rich people can’t pay to take the August SAT anymore because that was disposed of.</p>
<p>The proctor we had was pretty amazing. He gave us a couple minutes in between each section to collect our thoughts (he would use this time to restate the “rules” so it wasn’t like a traditional break). If we had to ask a question, the short breaks were the time to do it.
We also got 5 minute warnings from him. On break, if someone was late he’d wait for them. So thankful he did that. I had to wait in line for the bathroom at 3rd break and RAN back through corridors, back up stairs and the whole class was waiting for me.</p>
<p>On the downside, there was proctor switch for 1 section in the middle of it. I didn’t even notice till the new lady barked “Put down your pencils NOW”. No warning, nothing. I was pretty peeved. Luckily, it was only 1 section but it did seem to mess up a few of us.</p>
<p>Something like this is something you could complain about to CB, timing is supposed to be clear, as well as warnings. I’m not sure how long you have to complain, I’m sure any complaints wouldn’t even be considered after results are released.
<a href=“http://www.ets.org/Media/SOAR/SAT_Standard_Manual_82363_Final.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ets.org/Media/SOAR/SAT_Standard_Manual_82363_Final.pdf</a></p>
<p>thanks everyone! although it’s too late to complain now, if I do retake I will know what to expect and can handle the situation much better. And I’m definitely NOT going there ever again.</p>
<p>From my experience, it doesn’t do much to complain. You don’t really get anywhere with them.</p>