SAT dilemma, NMS at stake?

Parents Forum
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<p>Getting back to the original dilemma (ontolome don't worry I believe you, you certainly have no need to cheat).</p>

<p>I wanted to mention that my nephew, 2 years ago, omitted the math section where you actually enter the answer, (not the multiple choice or T/F sections etc). He entered the answers on the test booklet, not the official answer sheet. None of us could figure out how a kid in AP calculus and AP statistics, with A's could only muster 600-ish in math SAT. Luckily he took it again and the score was more appropriate.</p>

<p>He called the College Board after the mistake, as expected nothing could be done by them. He and his parents elected not to mention it to his schools. Even though they'd take the higher score I know he was nervous they'd suspect something or at least wonder. I'm sure NSmom is correct about the note, but I wonder if the note would (1) make you sound like a whiner or excuse-maker, I doubt if they want to hear it (2) bring attention to the matter (3) make you look like an idiot (ha) for skipping an entire section of such an important test (esp a Harvard applicant).</p>

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<p>ontolome,
actually, your New SAT CR score is more or less the same as old verbal score, so that isn't the problem. You are assuming that you have pulled 800's in CR and WR - and the scoring on the essay is, IMO, not the most consistant operation. Also, if you were tired at the end of the test - that means an increased chance of misbubbling. If you did as well as you think you did, I think you should let the score stand. If not - I sometimes think that flipping a coin yields about as good results as agonizing over it.</p>

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<p>Your new excuse of "needing the writing" isn't convincing. Harvard is accepting either the old or the new SAT I for the class entering in 2006. They have no writing requirement, either SAT I or SAT II, for that class. Furthermore, Harvard requires three SAT IIs, no matter which version of the SAT I a student submits. So, unlike some schools, taking the new SAT does not reduce the number of SAT IIs required for admission to Harvard.</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Your new excuse of "needing the writing" isn't convincing.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I find the OP convincing on that point. The title of the thread is "NMS at stake"--National Merit requires that semifinalists validate their PSAT scores with SAT math, critical reading, AND writing.</p>

<p>So even though Harvard doesn't require the test, National Merit does.</p>

<p>I also understand about exhaustion and fatigue on tests. Sometimes students just bite off more than they can chew. I remember many years ago, it was possible to take both the GRE general test (in the morning) and the GRE subject test (in the afternoon) of the same day. </p>

<p>I foolishly signed up for both on the same day. </p>

<p>The week prior to the GRE test day had turned out to be draining and exhausting, but I still showed up for the test as scheduled. I made it through the morning general test, but midway through the afternoon subject test, I just couldn't take it any more. I was tired and dazed and overwhelmed....the subject test was in the discipline I was planning to study in grad school, but I had majored in a very different area as an undergrad.</p>

<p>I hadn't known if it was possible to cancel the subject test, but at that point, I knew just didn't want to do any more....so I went up to the proctor and asked him and he said, "Yes, I can just destroy your answer sheet for the subject test and cancel it." So I did and I walked out the room relieved...I still remember how good it felt to be out of that room and in the sunshine and in the fresh air. I was so weary after hours in a room with no windows and poor ventilation, surrounded by a roomfull of sweaty, nervous students. </p>

<p>The test location was several hours walk away from my campus and I could have waited for my originally scheduled shuttle ride back to campus, but I decided to walk home and celebrate being out in the fresh air and sunshine again--I remember it like it was yesterday.</p>

<p>After canceling my subject test, I decided just to apply to grad schools like Stanford and Harvard that fortunately didn't require the subject test and to skip the grad schools that did require the subject test, because I was just so sick and tired of standardized tests, at least for a while. </p>

<p>Actually, a couple months later I decided to apply for a national fellowship that did require the subject test, so I bit the bullet and signed up for the afternoon test...again! But at least I didn't have to take the general test the same morning....and fortunately GRE fees cost a lot less back then than they do now---GRE fees are outrageously high now.</p>

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<p>You know...unexpected things just happen, even in SAT tests. People have off days. </p>

<p>My D had bad run at the Math IIC. Test center was over an 1 1/2 hour from home...testing staff was over an hour late arriving at the school. The rooms had no furniture(!), so the kids had to unload desks and chairs from a storage building before they could begin their tests. A/C was broken and making loud, loud clanging noises every 5 minutes or so. Fight broke out in the hallway....and on the sad story goes. My D just had had it....walked out of there. I reported the testing center problem to College Board and asked that they cancel scores. They inadvertently cancelled recipients, but NOT scoring. So I'm still trying to get them to remove the score from her record. Good news is that she retook the test in October and thinks she did well (omitted 4, confident with the rest). But she kinda feels like the OP, that she needs to explain that bad score (assuming we don't get it removed in the next month or so).</p>

<p>I will say this....I would hope adcoms would not make a presumption of something like cheating in the absence of any facts or evidence. That wouldn't be professional at all.</p>

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<p>One last thought -- As I said earlier, my S had differing scores, due to illness. I forgot, though, that he also took the ACT and scored quite high, so if anybody questioned his SAT scores, his ACT validated the higher one. Don't know if that's an option at this point, but it's a way of validating your scores for schools without retaking the SAT.</p>

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<p>thank you wisteria for addressing EllenF's comments....the skeptics have lost a lot of ground already ;P</p>

<p>ohiomom, i <em>hope</em> i pulled 800s on those sections, and i estimated those scores to be around 800 (hence the ~). you're right, i could have misbubbled, and it is quite possible that they might not be quite 800, but the point is that those two scores won't show a significant drop like my math. they'll be more or less consistent. that reduces the likelihood that people will think i cheated. it won't be a reversal of strengths and weaknesses.</p>

<p>2331clk, i agree with you now. i will not send a letter. if i agree in any way with the people who wish to continue accusing me, it's that exhaustion, although valid ("People have off days") and quite common, is not an exceptionally impressive excuse. i will let it sit. and, as ldmom and the pre-accusation posts said, it would be unprofessional for anybody to make assumptions in the absence of evidence that i did cheat.</p>

<p>thanks all for your advice. i think that i'll stick with my 1450 for the EA round, not send a note, and retake the SAT in december. NMS might even still look at december scores....</p>

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<p>You should write to NMS & Harvard, explaining that you skipped an entire math section & see if that helps.</p>

<p>btw, how did you skip a whole section anyway?</p>