scubasue

Pennylane....if you look hard enough, CB does explain that the March 2013 is the first test for which the photo will be required. I posted a link earlier in this thread and another link to a CB tweet on the subject in a similar thread a couple of weeks ago. The maddening thing is that CB is deliberately trying to conceal the fact that the photo is still optional.

I do think that you are correct that for now students should not upload any photos at all.

Pennylane2011

Scubasue- I looked at the link again and I see it now. It says effective October you will be "prompted" and them in March "required". This not very clear and I missed it. It looks like one of their vocabulary questions.
OP I see now why the jump in scores could trigger an investigation, but I do feel that kids taking the same test can grow over time and improve. The cheating incidents are unfortunate, but they are not the majority of kids. I am sorry that this has happened.

scubasue

"It looks like one of their vocabulary questions."

bwwaaahaaaahhhaa


Exactly! They set it up so only the top 3% of test takers can figure it out!

Pennylane2011

Sentence Completion: On the October test, students will be _________ to upload an appropriate picture. In March, they will be ____________

A) Impelled, necessitated
B) Prompted, Required
C) Incited, Demanded
D) Requested, Indebted
E) Compelled, Mandatory

txdad13

I signed my D up for the early Nov test a couple of weeks ago. The system would not allow me to finish registration without a photo. I've got the "come back and finish your registration email" to prove it. We didn't have a drivers license type photo but I got one that is face front, just not shoulders up. Now I'm paranoid about this. This is her last shot and another 70 points between CR & M makes a big difference in Merit scholarships for her. I'll be calling CB tomorrow about loading another picture...

scubasue

txdad...we got that same email a few days ago BUT my daughter does have a photo uploaded. That is the standard email everyone gets if they start, but don't finish, a registration. I don't think the photo has anything to do with it.

Even though it doesn't look like it, the system will let you finish registering without a photo. When you get to the photo upload page, if you just click "continue" at the bottom of the page, you can skip the upload and finish your registration without any problems. That's why there are so many students still taking tests now that don't have photos yet.

scubasue

Pennylane, that's awesome.

I also like:

*) duped, coerced (though I get the sentence would need revamping)

Pennylane2011

More like "intimidated into" and "frantic" if this is not cleared up soon. I think it may be worth the $10-$20 to get official passport pictures for this.

GolfFather

^^^^

How do having "passport photos" help?
It just means the person went to CVS, had pictures taken and walked into the SAT test.
It doesn't mean the person with the photos is the person who registered.

What I was going to ask (because I thought I saw it mentioned somewhere) was: does the CB accept a passport as ID?
Is that correct?
That, my daughter has.

texaspg

it sounds like no in OP's son's case. he had a passport.

So essentially, it is being run by morons.

scubasue

^^^^ Bingo

Pennylane2011

I meant get a passport photo taken at CVS and upload it on the registration.
There is too much left to chance when kids and parents upload their own pictures. It's hard to standardize that like passport photos. It would be worth it for peace of mind.

GolfFather

^^^^ Oh, gotcha. Thanks.

perazziman

patsfan, December is too late for EA and ED. He will only be eligible to apply for RD at that point. He also will not be able to get his SAT in time for rolling and early admission to the state flagships. I have spoken to College Board a few time on the phone, asked them if they would let him take it on Suday with the Jewish testers, but they will not consider it. I asked told them this was too arbitrary for children to be told on the test day that a photo was okay or not. I explained how we thought the photo the uploaded photo was excellent for identifying my son. The only issue was the technical definition of what is meant by facing forward. I was told that photos were provided that gave examples of what was unacceptable. I explained that my son's photos did not fall into those two classes, (one very dark and unclear, the other of two people with half the abruptly cut).

He does not want to start practing for the ACT this close to the deadlines. If he had PLAN in his background it would be different. Every indication is that ACT is less tricky but one has to work at a faster speed on it. I don't think it would be impossible, but at this moment trying to switch speeds when he has the SAT rythm down, scored perfect scores on two practice SAT tests and a 2380 on the third, seems unnecessary. He is trying to get his essays done now and keeping up with five AP courses.

scubasue

Perazziman.....did they say no to the Sunday testing because it's too late to register, or because they know your son isn't Jewish?