SAT Marking Mistake

JVJ · 10-14-2006, 07:43 PM

Hello - I am a new member to the group. Any assistance on this question will be appreciated. My son took the SAT today (Saturday Oct. 14). Unfortunately he made a marking mistake in the exam. He entered the answers for section 4 in the answer space for section 5 and the answers for section 5 in the answer space for section 4. He noticed the mistake and reported it to the test supervisor. The test supervisor contacted ETS, filled out an irregularity form mentioning what the student had done and told my son that the exam would be handscored and his mistake would be taken care of in the handscoring.

My question is 1. What should I do at this stage (I plan on contacting ETS on Monday). 2. generally what happens in these cases - WIll my sons answers be corrected as is (i.e. all of section 4 and section 5 are likely to be scored as incorrect) or will ETS handscore the exam as the test supervisor told my son considering the mistakes (which can be easily verified as one section had 10 questions and the other 34). Thanks in advance for any replies / assistance. JVJ.

berurah · 10-15-2006, 10:41 AM

JVJ~

Hi, and welcome to CC!

I have not had experience with this type of situation, but it sounds to me as if your son did the right thing in reporting it to the test supervisor. I can't imagine that this is a one of a kind mistake that no one else makes, so most likely there IS a procedure by which these tests are hand scored entirely. I *really* hope so, for your son's sake!

Best of luck, and let us know what happens! ~berurah

Marian · 10-15-2006, 10:47 AM

If your son is not a senior, he has plenty more opportunities to take the SAT. Up until Wednesday (I think, but you should verify this), he could cancel his scores. This eliminates all risk of the College Board handling the situation incorrectly.

If your son is a senior and really needs this set of scores, the situation is different. I think it is a good idea to call the College Board and get some kind of documentation of the fact that this test will indeed be hand-scored. Does your son have the name of the test supervisor? It might be helpful if you could mention it. Also, make sure you know the name of the test center where your son took the test.

marite · 10-15-2006, 10:53 AM

I would also suggest emailing the CB so you have something down in writing, though calling will get you a faster answer. Include all pertinent information: test center, student registration number and other ID, as well as the details of the misflling.

If he is applying EA/ED, most colleges also accept November scores, so all is not lost in case the handscoring is slow.

Marian · 10-15-2006, 10:56 AM

Quote:

If he is applying EA/ED, most colleges also accept November scores, so all is not lost in case the handscoring is slow.

Yes, but if the OP's son had not already registered for the November SAT, it is too late to register now. The best he would be able to do is show up at a test center as a standby.

MSMDAD · 10-15-2006, 11:06 AM

Hi JVJ, My DD did the same thing as your son when she took the SAT in June. The test supervisor filled out a test irregularity form (as in your case). To make a long story short, ETS hand-scored her test and we were satisfied that they did a good job. The only drawback was that her scores were not available for a while (if I recall correctly, it took two weeks more than usual to get her results).

marite · 10-15-2006, 11:40 AM

Marian:

Good point. This might be something to bring up to CB tomorrow.

JVJ · 10-15-2006, 12:23 PM

Thanks for all the replies. Thanks to MSMDAD for sharing his daughter's experience. Just one question to MSM DAD - DO you have to do anything in particular like sending in a request / report in writing to get the hand scoring done or will the supervisor's report be enough? Thanks again. JVJ.

marite · 10-15-2006, 12:27 PM

JVJ:

Not MSMDAD, but I would suggest telling the CB that your child reported the error to the supervisor. This is in case the supervisor forgets to report it to the CB; CB can then check with the supervisor that your child did indeed report the marking error. Do so in writing (today is fine) and by phone tomorrow. Additional insurance is usually wise.

JVJ · 10-15-2006, 12:44 PM

Marite - Thanks for the suggestion. Will follow up with the CB in writing / phone. Will also keep the group posted on what happens. This is his last chance at SAT. He is not applying early but has signed up for SAT II's for November and December. Hence this SAT does matter. Thanks again.JVJ.

ariesathena · 10-15-2006, 01:15 PM

Finally, since you won't get the results from the test (and know whether or not it was handscored correctly) for a few weeks, you should call or write to each college that will get the scores to explain the situation. You should also send PSAT scores, if available, for the simple reason that they will help to show a better picture. If his PSATs were 1300, his May SATs a 1310, this round, an 1100, and the next one, a 1400, you should demonstrate (with another score) that this is a marking issue.

MSMDAD · 10-15-2006, 04:10 PM

Hi JVJ, No, we did not contact the CollegeBoard immediately after DD took the test to tell them about the answer sheet issue. In hindsight, this would have been a good idea. I do recall, however, calling the CollegeBoard when we did not receive the scores, and the person I spoke to read some kind of a prepared statement indicating that some SATs took longer to score and that they were being very careful to ensure accuracy.

MSMDAD · 10-15-2006, 04:45 PM

One more thing, JVJ, I made a mistake regarding the date of the SAT that my daughter had a problem with: It was in April, not June. Please keep us posted on what happens and good luck.

JVJ · 12-07-2006, 06:03 PM

In October I had posted about my son's incorrect mixing up of sections while answering in the Oct. SAT 1 exam. Several of you had replied with very good suggestions. I am happy to say that even though it took 6 weeks, college board took care of the mistake and everything turned out well.
I filed a letter with the college board via email explaining my son's mistake and the fact that the test room supervisor also had filed an irregularity report. College Board (CB) acknowledged the email and gave me a number for reference. I kept following up via phone with the CB> The representatives are courteous but really do not have any info. except that the matter is being looked into and that CB would contact me. FInally after 4 weeks I spoke with a supervisor who was more helpful. SHe told me that these ethings (handscoring) usually take about 5-6 weeks and that CB would call me once scores were ready. They did. They called yesterday (after about 6 weeks in total) and gave me the scores. We are happy. My son has improved his scores by about 100 points (now has 750V, 750M, 760W). His new scores were what he thought he would get if the answers were corrected properly.

Lessons from this. 1. Talk to the exam room supervisor as soon as you notice a mistake. Get the supervisor to file an irregularity report. 2. Write a letter / email explaining the circumstances to CB ASAP after the exam. 3. Follow up by phone once very two weeks. 4. Keep a record of all correspondence / phone calls. Note the agent number.

Thanks again for everyone who posted / suggested on this. JVJ.

P.S> Now I would apreciate help in college admissions / selections. My son is in the top 8% of his class with the grades above. Good extracurriculars. 4.4 weighted GPA. Not so good Junior year scores (2A's, 5B) primarily because he played football for varsity (lettered). He is the first Indian kid from the Math and science center of the School to play Football in over 10 years. Stopped football this senior year to focus on his studies and grades are up (4A, 2B's all AP / honors courses - 5 AP and 1 honors)).

Applying to UVA, CHicago, Georgetown, UNC chapel Hill, MD, Virg. Tech, W&M and Wash U.
Could I get suggestions on what his chances are at lower ivy's? Also, any private small prestigious institutions that he can try? Suggestions with Names of institutions would be welcome. Thanks again.

ldmom06 · 12-07-2006, 06:24 PM

Hi JVJ - Statistically your son is very similar to my daughter and she got into Honors at UNC-CH. I recommend he really fine tune the essay; if he is from out of state, that essay will be important to UNC admissions.

Has he considered Rice? Great school, especially for undergraduate work. Wonderful residential college system....frequently gets Rice 'the Hogwart's comparison'. If you don't live in Houston, he would stand a great chance for admissions there.