SAT and ACT Test takers are being severely penalized for others' transgressions/mistakes.

A couple of disturbing stories (one local, one international) have rocked the standardized testing world recently.

In China and South Korea, test takers are having their scores severely delayed due to suspected cheating on the October SAT.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/31/world/asia/china-south-korea-students-...

Closer to home, the September ACT scores for a couple hundred local students who took the test at Upper Darby High School are lost (as in STILL lost). The ACT organization denied losing the tests until it was too late. Eventually, it had to owned up to its grave mistake, blaming incorrect mailing procedures.

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/ACT-Tests-Missing-for-182-Delc...

Both groups of students face dire consequences as a result of others’ mistakes/sins. This is heavy early admission season, and a lot of these students face very strict deadlines by which they must report scores. For the ACT to merely shrug its administrative shoulders and offer a $54 refund and a far-too-late makeup date is unconscionable.

Also, a lot of my students take the September test because it affords them the entire summer to prepare without the distractions of classes, college applications and fall sports and activities. Taking the test during the heart of autumn is a completely different experience than taking it a couple of weeks into the school year.

Finally, the ACT and SAT completely drop out of a student’s consciousness immediately after taking either test. So, to equal the level of preparation one had previously attained is an unfair burden.

As a tutor, this infuriates me. As a student or parent, I would have to create a new SAT vocabulary word to describe the anger I would be feeling!

Good luck to all affected and to all students!

Steve Odabashian

www.mainlinetestprep.com