<p>Hi all. This is my first post and need your help.</p>
<p>I've practiced for SAT, since summer using CB BB, PWN the SAT Math, Erica's grammar and critical reader. I've practiced all BB tests and CB online course tests. Took ~17 tests and averaged almost perfect scores (2270-2400) in all tests. I've timed all my CB online tests. I was scoring almost perfect scores (2360-2400) for the last few CB online tests. </p>
<p>So I was very confident about my preparation and took Oct SAT test; guessed 6 questions for all three sections and didn't leave any blanks. I felt very good about the test until I saw my scores this morning....450 CR; 550 M; 490 W (9 Essay). I am so frustrated and I can't believe this is my score. What are my options now? Can I contact CB? </p>
<p>My son is in the same situation as you. He did use mechanical pencil on the test, but he also used it for subject tests and AP tests before and the computer did not have problems reading them. We are waiting for Nov 4 for the online report then decide what to do next. I believe once you order the hand scoring verification, you will not get your QAS (which is a full report CB mails out 6-8 weeks after the test.) I have read several posters are getting much lower scores then anticipated. I wonder is there some reading problem with CB computer system. There was one year, CB found out their computer had problem after students requested hand re-score and corrected lots of students scores.</p>
<p>@SAT2017 You should just retake the SAT again next month if you feel the score is not to your liking. Not sure if a 700+ point drop from your practice test scores is a fluke but you should just retake the exam. If you get the same score range on the next SAT then you might not have been studying the right material and you might want to change something or try taking the ACT.</p>
<p>@SAT2017 This happened on the 2005 Oct test, almost 10 years ago. I hope it was a computer error, but I honestly think the chance is very small.
“A glitch in the grading of last October’s SAT exam lowered the scores of about 4,000 students, the company that administers the test said Wednesday.”</p>
<p>Did you notice your pencil marks bleeding through to the other side of the page? I did during the test and at the end scrambled to erase it but my proctor called time and I didn’t get the chance to erase the bled through marks on CR section 2. I got a 680 in CR but it was my strongest practice subject and I was confident that I made no more than 3-4 mistakes. The marks weren’t too dark, and graded by eye they would look like erase marks, but that may have screwed up the machine. </p>
<p>Not all mechanical pencils are created equal. However, one has to question WHY people persist on using such pencils when it has been known to create problems. Why not arm yourself or your kid with the appropriate pencil? </p>
<p>As far as bleeding and bubbling errors, this should NOT happen to anyone who has practiced in earnest. It is pretty simple to develop the correct filling of the answers and take the test with the usual recommended pencils. Fwiw, group bubbling eliminates the possibility of marking an entire series of answers incorrectly. There is enough time to follow such strategy as opposed to enter the answer as you proceed. Only in the last minutes should one deviate from doing it this way.</p>
<p>Ruining months of preparation by not paying sufficient attention to the mechanics of the test is a bit silly. As far as TCB errors, it is mistake to think that they do happen often and are anything but isolated cases. It does not mean that the OP might not have had an incredible bad luck, but it seems farfetched that someone who entered 17 tests and did well would earn such scores. </p>
<p>OP, get your hands on the QAS, and adapt your preparation for next test. If this was your first, just move on and take it again. No real harm done! </p>
<p>@xiggi I bought a whole box of #2 pencils (20 in it) and sharpened all for him the night before. We did not know mech. pencils are not allowed. He feels more comfortable using mech pencils doing math calculation and did not want to switch back and forth. Plus all his previous AP and subjects tests came out alright.</p>
<p>The frustration part is if it is not technical makes his score low and he already scored so high on practice test, what can we do to raise his scores? We totally lose faith now. He came out thinking he might get a 2400, but the actual score is less than 2100. If his practice test scores were not near perfect, I could say study more. We really do not know how to prepare the next test.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your comments. If College Board tests (BB and online course) are not accurate for test readiness, what are the other tests I should take? Test preparation books (including direct hits Vol 1 & 2) I’ve purchased are most frequent recommendations on this site. I am confused, how can I be sure that I am ready for next test? BTW I did use # 2 wooden pencils. </p>
<p>@SAT2017 Well, when you take next month’s SAT, you will know if there was something wrong with your test prep. If you do as well on that exam like your practices then no harm done except perhaps a little to your psychie and ego but you will have achieved the scores you wanted. Good luck.</p>
<p>Well, safe and except the recent QAS that are floating around the internet, you used the very best tests. The rest of the wannabe tests will NOT help you. There is something amiss in your adventure. None of us can do more than speculating as why your scores were so much out of line. Again, buy the related QAS/SAS and review what happened. </p>
<p>It is very unusual to see such a large difference for someone who took 17 real tests. Until you know fully what happened, you cannot jump to conclusions. My recommendation is to try to locate a past QAS and take it under similar conditions. I usually think that sitting through full tests as a preparation is mostly a waste of time, it might be helpful in your case. Perhaps you got tired. Perhaps you did get a very unusual bad test or a bad scoring machine. Again, none of us can help you figure that out. Only TCB can. </p>
<p>@southernhope In my son’s case, he took PSAT at 10th grade scored 192. His first practice SAT test before he studied was 1920. Over the summer he studied the whole summer, had lessons, memorized 2000 vocab…etc, by the end of the summer he constantly scored higher than 2340. He thought he did really well this past PSAT, but now we are not sure. We have lost faith.</p>
<p>@SouthernHope I took PSAT on Oct 15th. I did score 230 on the practice test that came along with 2014 student guide.
@xiggi Trust me… I took six (4x6 = 24 hours) CB online tests under true simulated testing conditions, except I took four 5 minute breaks and at the end of the each test I typed my bubble sheet answers and essay to CB online answer sheet for grading. I did this practice every weekend in September and first week of October. I was consistently scoring 2300-2400 and I was not tired!!</p>
<p>@SAT2017 You should definitely request a hand scoring after you get your QAS. Please update us if there is any development. We are waiting for Nov 4 online report to see if that is actually his essay (he got 10, but felt he should at least get 11). If that is his essay, we will ask for a hand scoring after QAS.</p>
<p>Actually, I remember that during my test it was specifically stated that you were not supposed to use mechanical pencils. Not even for the essays. And they offered number 2 pencils to people who didn’t have them. We’ve been told not to use mechanical pencil on scantron for years now, so there’s really not excuse.</p>