<p>I am writing as a student who, as of yesterday (May 7), took the New SAT I: Reasoning test. I found your extended test to be unfairly long, and the placement and extent of breaks to be unreasonable. </p>
<p>I do not consider myself to have a low attention span, but by the end of the test I felt mildly hypoglycemic (yes, I suppose I should/could have brought and consumed snacks during one of your rushed 5-min breaks, but then how would I have gone to the restroom on the other side of the test center's building?), tired, and feeling a general sense of a test-impairing mental and physical strain.</p>
<p>My assertion is that the conclusion of your study on the effects of fatigue, published on your own website, does not apply to 100, perhaps not even 90 percent of the population. I felt my own question answering ability greatly affected by the last of the nine sections administered to me. Overall I feel the test in no way reflects my reasoning ability, nor my readiness for college, but reflects your organizations hurried attempt to design a test for America's higher educational system of the 21st century.</p>
<p>To conclude I hope you consider my concerns, and will in the future provide longer breaks and/or a curvature of the test reflecting the effects of fatigue for all students, even the hypoglycemic.</p>
<p>Sincerely,
(Name Omitted)</p>
<p>P.S. I have no idea if this is the proper channel for such a comment, and hope that some kind soul will forward it to a person that is able to answer my concerns.</p>
<p>I agree with you completely. I took the March and May test, and the March test, I couldn't even concentrate on the last 10 minute writing section. I had to go to the bathroom really bad on like the 4th section, but they didn't give us a break for 2 more sections. I think there were only 2 breaks, each five minutes throughout the test. </p>
<p>There are so many flaws on the SATs, it is rediculous. But the truth of the matter is nothing will be done.</p>
<p>What exactly are your intentions here? Venting? Or do you think they'll look at your letter and think to themselves, "well moloch doesn't like the SATs. Looks like we'll have to change it."</p>
<p>Your efforts are noted, and I admire your idealism, but perhaps you should stop trying to fight and just give in. Buy some snacks and red bull for the test.</p>
<p>What a lame excuse--jeez, just take more tests to come! seriously! and stop whining about "fatigue." We ALL went through it, they're not going to make exceptions for you.</p>
<p>Yeah, I have to agree with aab123. The length of the test and the break schedule suck, but everyone is equally disadvantaged. If you're really hypoglycemic then you should apply for special accomodations.</p>
<p>I'd be willing to bet that if you get a reply from CB, it'll be one of those automated template replies to the effect of "we're doing our best and we value you our customers"</p>
<p>I think it's great what you're doing. Another thing that really bothers me is that we have to be there at 7:45. We have to get up early for school all week, and now we have to do it again on Saturday. If they gave us another hour, and had it last from 9:00AM to 2:00PM, everyone would be much more able to think critically and much more well rested. On Friday night before the test, I couldn't fall asleep and didn't end up getting to bed until around 11:30, and the whole time I was worrying that I wouldn't do as well on the SATs the next day because of a bad nights sleep. I don't really care if I'm wasting another hour of my Saturday afternoon, I'd just be happy not to worry about falling asleep while I'm reading a CR passage</p>
<p>i never understand why people include post scripts if they're typing a letter. Originally, they were intended for exactly what they meant. If one were handwriting a letter, it's understandable that they could not rewrite the whole letter for the sake of a single sentence. However, in the age of computers, post script is obsolete. Additionally--it might hurt your letter due to unprofessionalism.</p>
<p>Nevertheless-- great letter! Hopefully something will be done, even if it is unlikely.</p>
<p>I personally had a problem with collegeboard in March after they thought the "lost my essay." I was on the phone with them everyday, but I ended up speaking to a secretary of a secretary of a secretary of a secretary.... Good Luck getting that past someone who actually does something other than answers phone calls all day....</p>
<p>I used the Post-script for effect, yes i realize i'm not writing with a pen and its inclusion is kind of absurd. Nevertheless it was an idea basically unconnected with my letter that I decided to throw in at the end.</p>
<p>An example of the use of P.S. for its effect, as opposed to utility, can be seen all the time...I noticed it the other day in trash republican party campaign letter sent to my mom that used not only a P.S., but a P.P.S. to throw in several hurried and urgent messages calling for support.</p>
<p>And no, I'm not venting, nor do I expect change. But if change is to come the consumer needs to make his voice heard. Sheep just chew grass, men and their words change things.</p>
<p>Oh and to make myself more clear, (perhaps a post-script would be appropriate? =p), I am indeed not venting and simply plan to not to take another SAT I...ACT seems to be the test for me as the questions appear to deal with school related stuff as opposed to a metric ton of random, and for the most park akwardly written, thought problems.</p>
<p>The test is not unfair because it treats everyone the same. There are special accomodations available to students with legitimate medical needs who plan ahead.</p>
<p>You failed to plan for a needed snack.</p>
<p>If you are impaired by a modestly long and hard test, that is data that colleges need to know in making their acceptance decisions. They can have students who are able to do well under challangening conditions. Why would they want you?</p>
<p>The consumer of the College board testing program is not the student but the institutions that require the testing. The student has to pay for , prepare for and take the d@#@@%^ things but this is done to facilitate the institutions' decision making process.</p>
<p>You are a colossal whiner with an incredible sense of entitlement. Grow up.</p>
<p>I wrote a similar essay to a college that I was applying for and I was accepted with great feedback for my entrance essay. I don't believe that the SAT should be a requirement but rather an option to help you gain entrance to the college of your chose. The predictability for college success is so uncorrelated that it makes you wonder what purpose they really serve. Any test for general knowledge is flawed, just look at the IQ test.</p>
<p>I do agree that a five hour test is quite unnecessary. Saying "well everyone has this disadvantage" has to be about the most irrational thing I've heard all day. Why should everyone have a disadvantage to taking a test? Why do only students with medical complications get accommodations? I do not have any learning disabilities or medical problems yet I'm not able to concentrate on a test for longer than a few hours especially if I'm nervous about how it will effect me in life. Not to mention, most teenagers' minds do no fully function properly until roughly 1pm, scientifically proven.</p>
<p>It's all about the money. College board is making millions per month on students that participate in the SAT. It's in their favor to require a test for entrance into college. What incentive do they have to change their regulations if it's proven to have students take multiple tests to receive a score that they are satisfied with. If they catered towards the students needs, they would lose millions.</p>