<p>To answer the question directed to me, you should just work on each section and only that section during its time limit. That's easy to keep in mind while you take your test, and ensures not having to be scared about the issues mentioned here.</p>
<p>The worst that can happen is that the CB cancels your scores. If you try to sue them, it's very public and they'd have the incriminating evidence to win- plus, colleges would find out that you sued when there was evidence that you cheated. You waive your right to sue according to the SAT agreement (although some of us are legal minors and that couldn't hold legally...but then they could just cancel our scores because the agreement is null)</p>
<p>If you tried to arbitrate, you'd probably lose- the CB pays for arbitration, and the arbitration company usually rules in CBs favor- b/c they only accuse kids that they have found evidence that they cheated, and because they don't want the CB to find a new arbitration company. </p>
<p>If you opted to cancel your scores, they're canceled.</p>
<p>If you opt to retest, you never find out how you did, your second testing & test is put under total scrutiny, and you have to waste another 4.5 hours on another test.</p>
<p>So, basically, if you're investigated and they find any evidence of cheating, you lose.</p>
<p>It ISN'T the end of the world; the CB and the ACT just cancel the scores. They don't put you on a national college/testing blacklist, or even tell colleges that you were suspected of cheating if the scores are canceled. Colleges might ask why you canceled, and you could be honest or lie your a** off ("I wasn't sure that my performance would reflect my ability, so I canceled").</p>
<p>@akahmed</p>
<p>If you go up 600 points, you are almost definitely (99.999999%) going to get flagged. That magnitude of score increase is almost always investigated.</p>
<p>Oh Ok</p>
<p>Yeah that blacklist idea was creeping into my mind</p>
<p>So, its not 100% certain that they will find out right? I mean, are they going to look through every test, is there still hope?</p>
<p>Well akahmed, they randomly check tests. I've heard that they scrutinize international testers more (not sure if this would apply to you...I won't make assumptions based on your screen name).</p>
<p>However, the main criterea for investigation is a gain or loss of 300 points or more on a subsequent testing. 600 points would be very, very, very, very, very likely to be put under full scrutiny. In addition to the fingerprint thing that tokenadult mentioned before, they often pay for a handwriting specialist to compare your tests and come to a conclusion, they'll go over all of your scrap, talk to all of the proctors at your examination, etc.</p>
<p>Ok, I am seriously freakin' out right now.</p>
<p>Thanks for not making quick judgments, but I live In RI, US
I took the SAT Sophomore year and got a 1640 (April)
Now, I am expecting, as a senior, a 2250+, which is 610 points higher</p>
<p>So you're telling me I am basically screwed, because of one math workout/doodle on another page? God help me. </p>
<p>but really, what should I do? I mean a 600point increase is believable between two years and considering I went into the test first time blind. AAAAAAHHHH!!!!!</p>
<p>It's never the score rise that gets someone; it's not following the plainly printed directions on how to take the test.</p>
<p>Ok ok, please don't rub it in, I know, I'm a failure.</p>
<p>tokenadult is right. You broke the test rules, and even if it was over 2 years, it's still likely to be investigated and found. If you hadn't put down the work from another section (it doesn't matter if you kept your answers the same), any investigation would have no negative effects (provided you did no other actions that broke test rules). Most students who are investigated are never notified by the CB, since most suspect tests check out as legitimate rises/drops.</p>
<p>They're going to offer you the option of a free retest, which will appear as the original testing date (the one they found evidence of foul play on). You'll have more time to prep and no colleges will find out. Believe me, it could be worse, and you're not going to be a failure because of one SAT that you broke the rules on. In the end, this'll probably benefit you, as you'll (hopefully) learn from your mistake.</p>
<p>but there is that possibility they will overlook it, maybe .00000000000001% chance, are there any stats for what percent of students improve by how much? Because I can't be the only one with that score increase.</p>
<p>@akahamed:</p>
<p>After the SAT scoring machine disaster of '05, the CB wants to make sure that the answering machines aren't screwing up. They also want cheating to get caught (since allowed cheating would reduce the value of the test vs. the ACT).</p>
<p>Look on your old score report. It will say "On average, kids with your score gain +/- X points on a retake". If you do significantly higher/lower than that, you're likely to get investigated. There is a .00000000001% chance a score gain of 400 points overall could be overlooked, but if you're looking at 600? I'd say with (almost complete) certainty that you'll be investigated. If you erased what you did, or it's not obvious that it's a problem from another section, it <em>might</em> be overlooked.</p>
<p>Don't know about any statistics otherwise...</p>
<p>It was between a math and cr section. The problem with the inverted parabolas, I wanted to make sure c was 17. So I tried writing the equation of the parabola using y=(x-a)^2 + k, formula</p>
<p>Its such a small thing yet such an impact. How can they accuse me of cheating?!?!?</p>
<p>With a 200 point increase what is the probability like?</p>
<p>@akahmed
Well...it's small, but the rules say any cheating can result in score cancellation. Was it just the formula? Or the formula with data from one of the problems plugged in? If it's the latter, it doesn't look good</p>
<p>@galoisien
If the points are widespread (across the 3 sections), that would not be an unusual gain. However, if you were to get +/- 150 in one section, they would be likely to flag you. It depends on the spread of the points. If you're talking 200 points overall (spread across 2 or 3 sections), probably no investigation would occur.</p>
<p>And, to reemphasize what tokenadult said, you don't have to worry about any of this if you don't cheat. I'm not trying to punnish the people who have made mistakes here, just reminding any future test takers that the easy way to avoid problems is to be sure to follow all rules :)</p>
<p>Not to mention ethically, if you know you're cheating...I don't know how people are able to do it :| I didn't even think about it...</p>
<p>Yes with data from that problem
like the vertex (5,0) thats it.</p>
<p>It's not like "Oh, I cheated, but it wasn't a big deal, so this isn't fair." If you're breaking the rules, then you probably deserve to be caught, regardless of how many others are cheating with you. Akahmed, there's obviously nothing you can do now that would change your score. If CB overlooks your math work on a different section, consider yourself lucky and move on. If they happen to catch you, that's too bad, but you knew what you were getting yourself into. Either way, stop worrying now and just wait for results to come out.</p>
<p>That sounds sensible, we will just have to see,</p>
<p>I am ashamed...</p>
<p>@ akahmed - Don't be too hard on yourself. It sounds like you were treating your whole test book like scrap paper. It didn't sound to me as though you intended to change any answers based on your mathematical doodlings. So, while it might not have been the smartest thing to do, I don't get the impression that you intended to cheat by it either. People just need to remember that these booklets are taken very seriously. Don't write anything on them that you wouldn't want someone to see later.</p>
<p>Akahmed, I hope everything works out. You are a great member of this community and we all know you've worked hard for your improvements. Good luck with everything.</p>
<p>Thanks you guys. I feel better actually, and I have learned much from this experience. I will be sure to tell you how it went, </p>
<p>again, thanks :)</p>
<p>At least now it shan't be such a big shock and you'll be sure to study for a (possible) retest (if you actually need one). ;-)</p>