College Board Error

alum · #1 03-09-2006, 10:03 AM

As if high school seniors aren't stressed enough....

http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=vi7jotbab.0....06tHh9g2zA6YIw

KSigkid · #2 03-09-2006, 10:27 AM

I've heard horror stories about that, whether it be the SAT, LSAT or other tests. I've also heard cases where schools mistakenly sent out acceptance or rejection letters.

I had thought those were all myths/urban legends, but I guess things like that really do happen.

DeltAlum · #3 03-09-2006, 11:44 AM

If I understood the article correctly, the College Board will report the higher scores for those who were affected by lower scores, but not those who got higher scores.

Did everyone else read it that way?

While I understand the public relations of that, is it really fair since the higher scoring students may get spots in colleges over those who may really deserve them -- whether their scores were affected negatively or not?

That's a tough one.

Peaches-n-Cream · #4 03-09-2006, 11:47 AM

I saw this on the news last night. I couldn't believe that this happened. I feel so bad for the students.

PhoenixAzul · #5 03-09-2006, 12:52 PM

I know that my score, while respectable, influenced where I applied. But then again, I took both ACT and the SAT because Ohio schools tend to like the ACT more and schools in PA prefer the SAT. Both scores were close, but my ACT was higher.

Christ, this sucks. I know that ACT scores influenced the financial packets I was offered at Otterbein and at Bethany, i can only imagine what would have happened with an error in my score.

DeltAlum · #6 03-09-2006, 01:08 PM

Both of our kids who went to college took both.

I wonder if some of the kids who were affected by this took both and that helped tip them off to the problem?

Or, possibly their scores dropped off from the PSAT or something.

I guess it could be that great students just knew when their scores seemed too low.

irishpipes · #7 03-09-2006, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Both of our kids who went to college took both.

I wonder if some of the kids who were affected by this took both and that helped tip them off to the problem?

Or, possibly their scores dropped off from the PSAT or something.

I guess it could be that great students just knew when their scores seemed too low.

I took both and my scores were not commeasurate. I did well on the ACT, but scored a lot higher on the SAT - it played more to my strengths. (In other words, the SAT converted to ACT was several points higher than my actual ACT score.)

alum · #8 03-09-2006, 01:30 PM

This is the official announcement online at the College Board site. They are ones who develop and administer the SAT and SAT II subject exams. I don't know who runs the ACTs.

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/..._2005_sat.html

preciousjeni · #9 03-09-2006, 01:30 PM

I took both and did much better on the ACT. DA, I saw that too - I hope they do get it all resolved and give EVERYone his/her due credit.

ETA: Ok - it looks like it wasn't all testtakers and they mean they're contacting the students whose tests had to be revised. That makes a little more sense.

DeltAlum · #10 03-09-2006, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by irishpipes
I took both and my scores were not commeasurate. I did well on the ACT, but scored a lot higher on the SAT - it played more to my strengths. (In other words, the SAT converted to ACT was several points higher than my actual ACT score.)

I can see how that could happen. I think both of ours were pretty equal between the tests.

You mention "converting." Is there some kind of rough scale to do that? Or is it just kind of understood that SAT XXXX=ACT XX?

Just curious.

I do find standardized tests troublesome on a number of levels, but they helped, scholarship and otherwise with ours.

All in all, I'm glad to be past all of this since our youngest graduates in May.

KSigkid · #11 03-09-2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
Both of our kids who went to college took both.

I wonder if some of the kids who were affected by this took both and that helped tip them off to the problem?

Or, possibly their scores dropped off from the PSAT or something.

I guess it could be that great students just knew when their scores seemed too low.

I know at least in my high school (and hometown, for that matter), very few students took the ACTs.

I'd imagine if your scores dropped off signifcantly from the PSATs, that would have been the big red flag.

Whatever happened, it's not good to put students through this during what can be a stressful time already.

alum · #12 03-09-2006, 03:09 PM

I grew up in a Boston suburb and nobody took ACTs back then At that time most schools on the East Coast only accepted SATs. Now it seems to be different. The college couselors at my senior's hs told us junior class parents that the ACTs were an easier alternative to the SAT.

My child and the majority of her classmates in the AP classes did not take ACTs but only SATs (and of course SAT IIs if one was applying to private colleges). One set of exams for which to prepare was enough.

The High School Class of 2006 was also the guinea pig year for the new SAT. It's a very long test (3.75 hours).

KSigkid · #13 03-09-2006, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alum
I grew up in a Boston suburb and nobody took ACTs back then At that time most schools on the East Coast only accepted SATs. Now it seems to be different. The college couselors at my senior's hs told us junior class parents that the ACTs were an easier alternative to the SAT.

My child and the majority of her classmates in the AP classes did not take ACTs but only SATs (and of course SAT IIs for the private schools). One set of exams for which to prepare was enough.

The High School Class of 2006 was also the guinea pig year for the new SAT. It's a very long test (3.75 hours).

I just tried PMing you - please clean out your PM box.

mu_agd · #14 03-09-2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by alum
I grew up in a Boston suburb and nobody took ACTs back then At that time most schools on the East Coast only accepted SATs. Now it seems to be different. The college couselors at my senior's hs told us junior class parents that the ACTs were an easier alternative to the SAT.

Since I grew up in a Boston suburb and wanted to go to school in Ohio, it was suggested that I may want to take the ACT depending on what my score on the SAT was. It turned out that my SAT score was high enough for acceptance to where I went. But before it was suggested, I had never even heard of the ACT and hadn't realized there was an alternative to the SAT.

dzrose93 · #15 03-09-2006, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KSigkid
I've also heard cases where schools mistakenly sent out acceptance or rejection letters.

I had thought those were all myths/urban legends, but I guess things like that really do happen.

UGA's admissions department was guilty of this last month. I forget how many kids were sent acceptance letters by mistake, and then the school had to call and retract the offers. Yikes.