<p>I've been hearing from different people that either, in one test date:</p>
<p>Only experiment sections are different</p>
<p>OR</p>
<p>There are two totally different tests (like passages and stuffs).</p>
<p>Which one is right?
And wouldn't that be unfair for the people who get the "easier" version?</p>
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<p>The SAT is standardized, so it won’t matter how difficult the test seems to be relative to the other tests.</p>
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<p>There is one domestic version of the test and one international version. Only the experimental sections differ between different forms of the same version.</p>
<p>There are several different versions of the experimental sections AND several different versions of the test. I am not sure if there are only two versions of each, but there are several.
Not sure about that. Probably not, but I don’t know how it works. I think they just pick two versions that they think (through statistical analysis) are equal in difficulty.</p>
<p>exactly im an international student and i was so confused when i saw things about the passage cus i was like " i didn’t get that in my exam"
so, that was a different version, yes?
and when do our scores come out?</p>
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<p>I’ve always thought that the different versions only differ in the experimental section and the essay section (I believe there are three different essay prompts). International students will obviously have the international version of the test, but I have no idea how many versions of that there are. I assumed there was only one.</p>
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<p>Check the collegeboard website.</p>
<p>The tests at one center never differ in any way. In January, October, and May (The months when the QAS is available), domestic and international tests are the exact same, except there’s 3 or 4 versions of the same test. The way it is is this: It’s the same test, but with the sections shuffled (not randomly, mind you), a different experimental section (writing/reading/math) - which is always the same section across all versions of the test last time I checked (for example, section 3 is experimental in test version A, then section 3 is experimental in test version B, even if it’s a different type of experimental section - for example A can be math and B can be reading) - and a different essay prompt. The curves are the exact same for CR and M due to it being the same test, except with sections shuffled. However, the writing has 3 different curves depending on the essay prompt. I have no idea why - this doesn’t seem fair at all. One prompt is not more difficult/easier than the other and the MC is the same across the tests. Only difference is the curve. Example: in the January QAS, I found that there were 3 curves for the writing - two of them had 800’s for a 9 essay with 49/49 MC, and the third had a 790 for the same value. Why? No idea. This happened to me in the May SAT - I was unlucky enough to get the essay prompt with the bad curve - meaning I got a 790 rather than an 800 with a 49/49 MC and a 9 essay. Had it been another prompt, I might’ve gotten an 800.</p>
<p>On dates other than the months listed above, there are 2 versions of the test: international and domestic. Internationals have the exact same test - same order, same experimental, same essay prompt, same curve - same everything. For domestic’s, it’s similar to the QAS months - same test, reshuffled sections, 3 possible experimental sections (3 possible tests I believe.)</p>
<p>However, for some reason, I got 4 essay prompts with my Jan. QAS, rather than the 3 I was expecting (one for each version of the test.) So I’m not sure how that fits in. Perhaps it’s the same prompt for internationals with 3 possible ones for the domestic folks - except I’m sure internationals have 3 versions of the test as well, at least. (3 experimentals and reshuffled sections for sure.)
Anyways, clear enough?</p>
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You’re right. Disregard my prior post.</p>
<p>For each test form on a given test date, the test sections may be arranged in a different order (except that the essay is first and the 10 minute writing is last), the essay question may be different, and the non-graded section may be different or not there at all. When the CB used to publish this info, I remember seeing up to five different forms on one test date.</p>
<p>There can be up to four different essay questions, and yes, they <em>do</em> vary in difficulty. The different writing+essay curves reflect these variations and (attempt to) make the essay section fair. </p>
<p>The graded material on different forms is not different other than the essay and the ordering etc. However, the int’l test is different from the US test in non-QAS months.</p>
<p>On the SATs that are not published, March, June, November and December there have been 2 versions of the test (at the same test site) from time to time, but not always. There is a east of the Mississippi essay topic, a west of the Mississippi topic, an international topic, and one for students taking it on Sunday for religious reasons. </p>
<p>There is an experimental section on each test. Some students will get an extra section of critical reading, or math and or grammar.</p>
<p>^Some forms leave out the equating section, for a total of 9 sections.</p>