The College Board announced last week that a processing problem caused some correct answers on the October 2005 SAT test to be scored as wrong. As a result, about 4,000, or nearly 1 percent, of students who took the exam received lower scores.
The New York City-based organization has sent colleges a list of the applicants who were affected by the mistake and asked them to review the students’ files.
The Washington Post reported that some students may have received higher scores than they earned.
Many colleges release their admissions decisions in early April, said Brian P. O’Reilly, the executive director of SAT information services.
Still, Mr. O’Reilly said the discovery probably will not change admissions decisions in most cases. Most of the affected test-takers, about 83 percent, will gain between 10 and 40 points. Only about 5 percent will see their scores jump by 100 points or more, he said.
The College Board has refunded all the affected students’ registration fees and taken steps to ensure that such a mistake does not recur, Mr. O’Reilly said.
