This proves true in AP calculus because that last question on your test is worth 20 points and requires 17 steps to solve. Not true for the SAT or for most standardized tests.
Every question on the SAT follows the same mantra:
- +1 point for each correct answer
- +0 for each omitted answer
- -1/4 point for each incorrect answer
Plain and simple. This ties in with the whole “standardized” test moniker. If the SAT people were designing tests that involved partial credit and questions with varying point values, they wouldn’t be able to run it through a machine, and having the opportunity to take the test seven times would quickly diminish to two. Plus, the price of your test would jump from $50 to $350 due to the cost of hiring manpower to grade your exams.
This is why the scoring rubric is straightforward and easy for a computer to handle.
Keeping this in mind, the scoring of the SAT actually works to your advantage. It gives you the opportunity to focus on the questions you know how to do, instead of rushing to get those final questions. Accuracy is more important than speed, and even the really smart kids can leave one or two questions blank and still receive that perfect score of an 800.
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