<p>Best of luck to everyone taking the SAT tomorrow.</p>
<p>You too DrSteve, hope you get the score you want!</p>
<p>Hi Dr Steve,</p>
<p>My daughter is currently a high senior. She took the SAT last year in March 2013 and made 1080 (math 370, reading 330 and writing 350). After attending the SAT preparation this past Summer and more practice using the SAT official, she improved a little bit to 1490 (math 540, reading 490 and writing 460). ETS singled her out and allegedly found patterns in reading and math with one other who took the test that day. Do you have a sample letter about to respond to ETS? Or any ideas? We know our daughter prepared well and it was just pure coincidence about their results. She signed up for the March 8 2014 SAT and practices a lot since she believes doing even better this time. Please help.</p>
<p>A concerned parent.</p>
<p>Here is probably what happened. Your daughter’s large score increase set off a “red flag” to the College Board. After seeing this large score increase they decided to investigate. I’m assuming that they compared her answer sheet with students that were sitting near her in the room (if possible you should make sure that the College Board has documented proof that the student with similar patterns was actually near her - this shouldn’t be allowed to go any further if this is not the case). This is another example of an investigation being started without any real evidence. The College Board does this when they see large score increases. I find the process of searching for evidence when there is no real evidence that warrants a search to be very problematic. It’s much easier to find evidence when you have a preconceived notion that such evidence probably exists. Furthermore, this is also a case of “he said, she said.” If there indeed was cheating, how can anyone determine for certain which one did the cheating. Unfortunately for you the other student probably didn’t have such large score increases. Therefore in the College Board’s eyes it is much more likely that the other party is innocent. This of course is a complete fallacy. If that student had a similar score and cheated off your daughter, then their score wouldn’t go up because their final results would be based on your daughter’s current score, not their own previous score. </p>
<p>Since I have no formal expertise in legal matters I would never draft such a letter. I am always happy to give testimony to my own student’s that face such an ordeal, and you can feel free to think about the things I’ve said above and use them in your own letter. But ultimately, if the College Board decides to dismiss these scores, you will either need to hire a lawyer and go through an arbitration hearing, or simply accept this and have your daughter retake the test in a private setting (this is most likely what the College Board will request). </p>
<p>A few other things to possibly consider:</p>
<p>(1) Do you have practice tests she has taken with results that are closer to her second score?
(2) Has your daughter worked with a tutor that believes that the last score she received accurately reflects her ability?
(3) Do you have any other evidence of her preparation between the two tests?
(4) Is the other student being investigated as well?</p>
<p>Let me know if there are other specific questions I can answer.</p>
<p>DrSteve, Thank you so much for your reply. When she took the 3-week SAT prep session this past Summer, she scored around 1420. We sent copies of her prep session scantron, school transcripts for this year and last year’s where she maintains a 90+ average, proof of prep session registration and school awards. However, they want us to prove why some of her answers and mistakes were similar to others in that room. They checked her writing and did not find anything there. To me, if they were to scrutinize the scores, they should do it for all sections. They are selectively focused on the reading and math. We know for sure she had been practicing and attending math/reading school tutoring. We are at loss for words as scholarship deadlines are passing by. She has been getting ready for the test next week. She worked with her school teacher in the school-sponsored prep session and has kept in touch with her ever since. We don’t know the other student is being investigated as well. Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.</p>
<p>Thanks for your availability</p>
<p>I got it, thanks. Will keep you posted.</p>