The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. It measures a student’s readiness for college and assesses their skills in writing, reading, and mathematics. The test is scored on a scale of 400 to 1600, with separate scores for the Math and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing sections. The majority of high school students take the SAT during their junior or senior year, and many colleges use it as part of their admissions process to choose the best applicants.
The SAT was first introduced in 1926 and has undergone many changes over the years to reflect shifts in educational standards. The test includes multiple choice questions and an optional essay section. In recent years, the SAT has become more focused on real world problem solving and critical thinking skills, supposedly making it harder than years before. Another big change is that the SAT is now fully online, influenced by pandemic times. The SAT is a 2 hour and 14 minute test that can be taken in March through December.
This year, the first SAT testing block was held on March 8th and unfortunately for the test takers there was a major error with the testing software. Each student who takes the SAT should get their full 2 hours and 14 minutes to take the test. In many testing centers, the test was scheduled at 8:30 AM even though for many centers, the call time was at 8:45 AM or later. This made it so that the test was automatically submitted, regardless of whether or not the students finished the test.
Several complaints from parents and district boards have risen due to this issue and the SAT board plans to give a similar test as a retake for those who wish to cancel their score from March 8th. The make-up exam is scheduled on March 22 for those who wish to retake their test. Meanwhile, ACT software developers are working on fixing the issue to make sure it does not happen again.