Students find key error in SAT test given across US

A printing error in SAT test, widely used for college admissions in America, has triggered a barrage of complaints from students taking the exam across the US.
Students taking the SAT on Saturday across the United States found a mistake in the instructions, causing confusion about just how much time they had to complete at least one section, The Washington Post reported.
The College Board, which owns the SAT, said it is trying to figure out what to do about the mistake, "to ensure the fairness of the test and the validity of the scores."
Many proctors, who were given proper instructions, apparently did not realise that students had incorrect information until they told students their time for a certain section was nearly up and students complained.

Frantic proctors began calling the College Board during the test to try to get guidance, and after the test, students and parents began posting complaints about the error on social media and other websites.
"In my daughter's test, they told her they conferred with the College Board and that they had 25 minutes. Then 19 minutes into the section (she still thought she had six minutes) someone came into the room and told them they had to finish it within 20 minutes. So they only had one more minute. She still had 3 questions left, as she thought she had six minutes," a parent said in a post on a website.

A statement from the College Board on the mistake said, "Shortly before noon Eastern Time on Saturday, June 6, Educational Testing Service (ETS) informed the College Board that there was a printing error in the standard test books they provided to students taking the SAT on June 6 in the United States."

"The time allotted for a specific section, either section 8 or 9 depending on the edition, was incorrect in the student test books and correct in the script and manual provided to Test Center Supervisors. The student test books contained '25 minutes' while the manual and script contained the correct time limit of '20 minutes'," it said.

As soon as ETS became aware of the error during the administration of the test, they worked to provide accurate guidance to supervisors and administrators, it added.
The statement made it clear that the College Board is "actively working to determine next steps to ensure the fairness of the test and the validity of the scores."
"We regret the confusion and concern this issue is causing for students and their families, and we will provide them and others with updated information as soon as possible," the ETS said.
ETS is the College Board's test administration and security provider for the SAT.