<p>Today I took the SAT. I'm feeling good about it. Math is by far my best subject; I had confidence and reasoning in every answer and wouldn't be surprised if I got 750+. I'm pretty good at writing. I'm feeling good about my essay. I hope I get a 650. Critical Reading is a crap shoot; I have terrible reading comprehension abilities, and I hear people speculating about it being one of the harder CR questions that the SAT gave out, which is bad news for me; it's my weakest section. I hope for a 550 there. However, that's not the main issue.</p>
<p>I took the test at a high school near mine, and over 400 people took the test. This is my first time taking it. I went to my testing center for people who had extended time accommodations(autism for me). Several people who didn't have extended time found themselves in this room and had to move. I had to wait an hour and a half in order to finally get started. I went through the test, focused as ever. Once I finished, I noticed something strange: My test only had nine sections. First was the essay, then the long writing session. From there, I alternated math and critical reading. Once I had CR and math three times, there was a short writing section and then I was done. Wasn't there supposed to be a section for experimental purposes? Did it have to do with starting late? Did it have anything to do with the fact that I had extended time? Am I absolutely screwed if my test was missing a scored section and the experimental section actually was there? Any comments on the test itself? Any words of advice? Any more of these questions? No! So, what about having no experimental section?</p>
<p>(I’d like to apologize if I come off as offensive when talking about people with disabilities)</p>
<p>I think the lack of experimental section comes because of extended time (as a result of disabilities). The CB uses the experimental to determine curves for when the experimental is used a real section in future exams. Using data from extended time testing/disabled student testing would slightly skew the data, I’m assuming.</p>
<p>Not to sound rude, but Autistic people take the SAT? I never knew that, and I know quite a few Autistic kids…(Though none are high school age)</p>
<p>I’m on the autistic spectrum, and many people with disabilities such as autism can take the SAT. They have to be approved by Collegeboard. I know a few people who are autistic at my school taking the SAT. As a matter of fact, these autistic people are a fair bit smarter than the average kid at my school.</p>
<p>Lacking an experimental section on the SAT because of time makes sense. I personally wouldn’t mind 37.5 minutes of extra testing, but we already started really late. The influence of the data also makes sense.</p>
<p>I wonder if an autistic savant skill would be standardized test-taking (not to sound insensitive)?</p>
<p>Good question. I think I have some savant skill, with photographic memory and fast arithmetic abilities. The arithmetic can be developed by ordinary people, though.</p>
<p>I just think I take the tests seriously; I don’t think I have a savant skill on standardized testing. Some others might, though.</p>
<p>Versions of the SAT without the experimental sections are routinely given, not just to extended time test takers. Typically, there would be a black and white cover version (10 sections total) and a pink cover version (9 sections total). Each version would come in two or three variations (rearrangements of sections and/or different equating sections). The CB used to publish the layout of each variation after the test.</p>
<p>My cover was pink. Thanks for the clarification! I was worried that my score was going to be screwed.</p>
<p>^^I wish the CB still told us how many variations there are, both order-wise and content-wise. Also, I think the covers for the 10-section tests are blue?</p>
<p>314159265: I think you’re right. There was actually one girl who sat in front of me that was taking sections in less time than the rest of us, who had extended time. I recall her test cover being blue, while mine and the others pink. I noticed as I was taking my test that she went up to section 10(the proctor wrote the section she was on on the board), which was why I was puzzled as to why my test only had nine.</p>
<p>Google “after the test (SAT Test Forms)” to see what CB used to publish. They may have switched colors in the last few years.</p>