SAT scores have long been one of the major factors in deciding where student apply to and are accepted into for college and university. The SAT is a standardized test made up of essay, multiple choice and mathematical questions that is supposed to be a measurement tool to gauge the critical thinking skills needed for success in college. The test includes critical reading skills assessment, math skills assessment and a writing assessment. The SAT uses questions to ascertain how well you analyze and solve problems and it is typically taken by high school juniors and seniors as a preparation for the college and university application process.
The SAT is scored on a scale from 200—800, with subscores for writing. The SAT is administered 7 times per year in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and U.S. Territories, and 6 times a year overseas. Recently, the SAT and the company that scores the SAT have been under attack. Over 4,000 students in October of 2005 were sent incorrect test score results. The College Board openly apologized to high school students and college admissions offices and has been taking multiple steps to correct the problem.
The problem has resurfaced again this month after the College Board admitted that 27,000 of 495,000 college entrance tests taken in October, 2005 were not completely re-scanned for errors even though many scoring problems had come to light. Another 375 SAT tests from the problem batch were incorrect. Additionally, there was another oversight admitted because the College Board actually found 1,600 more exams that had been set aside because of problems and forgotten as the other crisis mounted. Of those 1600 missing tests, another 18 students got artificially low scores.
The College Board has now said that all SAT tests from now on would be scanned twice and that they would implement other new precautions. The College Board has also said it is seeking the outside consultation of Booz Allen Hamilton to perform a comprehensive review of their process within the next 3 months.
The College Board has assured students that if they have been affected, they should have received an email letting them know and that they will be receiving a revised official score report by mail. Students can also access their revised scores online and the College Board is proactively contacting any high schools and colleges that have been affected. Additionally, they are refunding those students' test registration fees as well as any other fees associated with sending scores from the October test administration.
There have been a number of SAT lawsuits and other standardized test lawsuits in the past few years including both class action lawsuits and individual cases. Pearson Educational Measurement, the company now scanning the SAT and other standardized test results, recently settled with 8,000 Minnesota high school students after they were given erroneously low scores. There is also a class action lawsuit pending in Louisiana on behalf of over 4,000 potential teachers who have sued after they received incorrect failing marks on a licensing exam.