<p>Yeah. Basically, not finishing the exam ... is about the last thing I would have expected in the known universe. Maybe in a parallel universe.</p>
<p>Today was, granted, my first time taking the Lit SAT. And I concede, I never took any practice exams to work on pacing. I never thought it was an issue, though -- I was more concerned with studying the technical aspect of Literature, where I have been weak in the past. Reading comprehension, conversely, is my natural strength.</p>
<p>I feel like I've had my heart wrenched out. The test was a synch, but I didn't have the time to finish it. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THIS PROBLEM? And, to those of you who have taken the exam more than once, did you notice a substantial variability between the exams? Ie., did one exam have more or less questions specifically about literary terms? I drilled myself on terms, and there were barely any. Just an onslaught of profuse passages. I have no qualms with answering questions based on in depth reading -- but how to SKIM the exam, without foregoing the answer? Quantity, or quality?</p>
<p>One last question --> Is it humanly possible to score an 800 on this test? Or is it normal to not complete it?</p>
<p>It goes without saying I will take the exam again next month. In the meantime, I would at least like to get my expectations straight. Any advice on the matter will be welcome!</p>
<p>It’s completely normal that you didn’t finish (especially since you hadn’t taken a practice test). It took me all 60 minutes to finish.
I don’t know why curious is ■■■■■■■■, you did fine. Like you, lit passages are never a big deal for me, but these took longer than usual. I usually finish (normal) CR passages with 5-10 mins to spare (I’ve gotten an 800 twice), but this is above your standard reading comprehension.</p>
<p>I’m sure you’ll do great next time, I wouldn’t worry about it :)</p>
<p>My son took the same test today and he was upset that he wasn’t able to finish either. He said the reading was more ‘dense’ and the ques.more challenging than any of the practice tests he took. He took it after Math and History, both of which he thought were fair…but very bummed about the # he left bank on the Lit Exam…which I think he expected to do well on.
Try not to worry too much…you are probably more exhausted than you realize…you’ll feel better after a good night’s sleep…why not treat yourself to some ‘junk tv’…you can always take it again.</p>
<p>I finished with 15 minutes to spare, but it’s kind of hard to “check” your answers for Lit. At least, it is to me. I’ve never taken an SAT Lit practice test. However, the ACT reading is really time constrained, so I guess I have had practice.</p>
<p>It was my first time taking it, too, and I went about studying for it pretty much like you. I agree, some of those passages were kind of difficult to wrap my head around. It definitely took me longer than I expected.</p>
<p>I finished with 5-10 minutes to spare, but that was still much longer than my practice tests had taken me. That said, I thought it was easier than the Kaplan tests I’d practiced.</p>
<p>sorry if i came off wrong…didn’t mean to. No, but I really finished about 15 mins early. I don’t know I read pretty fast, so maybe thats why? It was also the third test I took, so maybe i wasn’t paying as close attention. Idk. Anyway, you probably did fine. I wouldn’t worry about it.</p>
<p>i’m taking ap lng/cmp, so my teacher gives practice mcs like every week. i guess my best advice would be to practice multiple choice tests; it’s hard at first, but with more practice your pacing should be alright. i finished exactly at the hour mark.</p>
<p>This might be just to make myself feel better (I got a 710 on Lit last year, which I think is good), but I think RedCat is right on the curve being around -3ish for an 800.</p>
<p>I have same issues. Some professors will give you huge exams that not even themselves could dare to take or finish on time. Then you get a grade based on the speed (if you get it all done on time), but not based on your real knowledge (meaning you didnt finish it all). It is B.S.!!!</p>
<p>And what about the extra credits some professors give? Sometimes you have to deal with all the BS about your professor liking you or not. Do you think professors are neutral and act with justice? No. I have been in all sort of test, and this is what i have seen:</p>
<ol>
<li>Professors who help the students they like by giving them free answers to the test.</li>
<li>Giving extra credit to some students not the others.</li>
<li><p>I once sow an accounting professor giving the exam back to the student telling him "he messed up, to fix it up…"UNREAL!</p></li>
<li><p>female professors who are nice to guys, and dont give a brake to girls (what is that all about… i wonder sometimes).</p></li>
<li><p>Professors who give exams with questions they dont even know what the F. the answers is… unreal!</p></li>
<li><p>Test which are soooo F. long that there is not way in hell you could finish all on time. Happened to me twice. Then get a bad grade for their st^&* mistake. On top of that having the professor telling you that you need to study harder… COME ON!!! I know the answers. It Is not the student lack of knowledge–it is the stupid exam been too long… moron!! (note: I always wish the professor would dare to take their own long test to see if they can finish it in one hour). Last one gave us a package --not kidding you-- with 25 pages (100 questions, 5 big accounting exercises, and 5 more big exercises (not a final exam, not mid tern) just first exam of the semester… THen she says to students the average grade in her class is C… I wonder why?</p></li>
<li><p>Test with questions that make no F. sense at all. Not even professors can tell you what it means, when you go ask them.</p></li>
<li><p>Exams with questions regarding material not even cover in class or appear in the text book. (this happens when school changes the old book for a new text book, but dont change the exams made by the department)… unreal!</p></li>
<li><p>Exams with sooooo many trick questions that you waste most of your time trying to figured what is going on. Instead of answering fast, you feel you just entered a battle field and someone is making fun of you. Note: i always wonder who is the sick person who seats in front of his or her desk and say, “mmh how can I F%^& with students’ head today.” I wonder if there is a contest among these individuals, to see who plays the best word games, and how get more students to fail.</p></li>
<li><p>Exams with incomplete sentences. The longitude is similar… a)235, b) 93, c) none of them. What the F$%^&* is that?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Ok, I could go on and on. I think someone in the government should regulate this mess. Students deserve to get grades based on their comprehension of the material and their actual knowledge, not get grades based on all this BS. </p>
<p>Thanks you.</p>
<p>PS. Sorry for my grammar i wrote this and i dont care to proof-read (im not in a class)</p>
<p>My proctor was ■■■■■■■■ and skipped a page of instructions. She ended up skipping the background questions before the test, and just started the test when she told us to “turn the page and fill it out.” It ended with me losing 10+ minutes on my lit test. I still was able to finish it though. Maybe you just read sort of slow?</p>