SAT Essay Administration Issue

Test Preparation SAT Preparation
1

<p>My daughter took the SAT in October. Her CR and Math scores were as expected but her Writing score was unexpectedly low due to a startlingly bad essay score. She only missed 2 of the Writing MC questions so I believe she would have had a good Writing score if she had even a decent essay score.</p>

<p>When asked about the essay, she said that the proctor erred on the timing for the essay section. She didn't tell me this before but apparently the proctor announced that the students had 5 minutes remaining when they really should have had 10 minutes then told them to stop when they should have had 5 more minutes. Another student pointed out the timing error afterward and, after some additional discussion, the proctor gave the students an additional 5 minutes to work on their essays. There were no other problems with the administration of her SAT.</p>

<p>My daughter is a slow writer due to phyical issues and, in every practice test, has taken every second of the 25 minute allowed for the essay. She stated that she was only about halfway through her essay when the proctor gave the 5 minute warning and she then rushed to conclude it before the proctor told them to stop writing. The students were subsequently given an extra 5 minutes to work on their essays but that was not adequate to undo and then redo the rushed portions of hers.</p>

<p>Can we seek redress for this issue? What would be appropriate? I'd like for her to have an opportunity to write another essay to replace the affected one and then integrate the score from the replacement essay into her other scores from her October test. This was her first sitting for the SAT and she has plenty of time to take it again but I'd like to wipe the affected essay score off her record while keeping the scores from the other three portions (CR, M and W MC) of the test. Is this possible?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>If you try to seek redress, they will make her take an entirely new test (for no charge) and use that score. They will not allow your daughter to only re-do the essay again.</p>

3

<p>So, we can either keep her October scores as-is or discard them and take the test again free of charge? I’d like to keep her scores from the other sections but either replace the essay score or have it flagged as ‘administration issue’ when reported to schools.</p>

<p>ClassicLays, have you been through this process?</p>

4

<p>No, I have not been through this processly personally. And you keep the scores as is unless you file an irregularity report. If they can confirm there was a mistake, they will offer you a new test free of charge. There is no way that they will only let you retake the essay. If your daughter missed only two MC, she should get about the same amount right next time considering that she already has a good understanding of grammar rules.</p>