<p>He just got his score today and got a 0 on the essay because he used a pen to write it. He was told by his proctor that this is OK. I remember that the CB said they'd grade all essays (written in pen or pencil) for the March sitting. Have they discontinued this policy for the May sitting?</p>
<p>What are his options?</p>
<p>He can call the College Board at (609) 771-7600 and he can ask them about what to do. Probably he'll have to do hand scoring and maybe that will help.</p>
<p>maybe he just had a horrendous essay, b/c pen/pencil shouldn't really matter, they scan the essay and some grader reads it over a computer, if anything a pen is darker and would scan better.</p>
<p>No, it does matter. When they scan the essay it only reads the graphite, just like when they scan the multiple choice. Definitely call collegeboard and try to get them to do something, but the chances are still low it will work, that really sucks for your friend...</p>
<p>It has to be that pen does not pick up for their scanner. If they saw ANYTHING, the lowest score you could possibly receive is a 2. Zero is only given if nothing is written.</p>
<p>Offtopic responses also receive a score of zero.</p>
<p>The pen didn't scan so it looked like nothing was written, your friend should call CB, explain the situation and ask them to hand-grade it.</p>
<p>and if the handwriting's illegible i think</p>
<p>This happened to a few kids in my school for the March.</p>
<p>Tell your friend not to worry. Have him call and ask for a hand-grading. They'll do it.</p>
<p>Yeah this happened to someone I know on the March--he called up immediately and they hand-graded it (for a fee, if I remember correctly), and he ended up with a 10, which he deserved.</p>
<p>I believe the College Board says that if your test is found to misgraded you won't be charged for handgrading (but I don't know if using a pen and getting a zero is a misgrade because the instructions said not to), however if your friend actully deserved a zero, however unlikely this may be, he will be charged $25.00 no matter what. He should probably report the test center and room so the protor can be instructed not to do permit pen usage again.</p>
<p>I just talked to him and he called CB and was told that, for the May sitting, all essays that received a score of zero would be reread and scored by hand at no extra charge. He's relieved and hopefully this information gets out to other people who made the same mistake.</p>
<p>That happened to me in March -- they sent me a letter saying they would waive the $50.00 fee -- like your friend, my proctor said it was ok too. It was not fun being ont he phone with CB and all, but in the end I ended up doing well on the essay. They said they would STRESS the use of pencil on the essay - ha, my proctor didn't even mention it once in may</p>
<p>oh well --- can't complain anymore</p>