“Because it improved for over 300 points, so they’re saying I improved basically too much and that’s skeptical for them.”
Here are 10 things we should know about Kamilah Campbell, the high school student accused of cheating on the SAT because she improved her score by more than 300 points.
Kamilah Campbell is an honor student with a 3.1 average, at Dr. Michael M Krop Senior High School in Miami, Florida
Kamilah is the daughter of a single mom, co-captain of her high school dance team, and has earned a scholarship from the local dance studio where she works
Kamilah’s ultimate dream is to study dance at Florida State University, the #14 dance school in the nation. She dreams of majoring in Dance and minoring in Business
Kamilah was aiming to also earn a scholarship from Florida’s Medallion Scholarship program. This is a scholarship issued by the state that pays $159.53/credit hour. Students need a 3.0 GPA, at least a score of 1170 on the SAT, and 75 hours of community service to eligible
Kamilah says she took the SAT in March and didn’t prepare for it at all. She scored a 900 out of 1600. She knew she needed to improve, so she got to work.
Between March and October, she took practice tests, and studied to retake the SAT and scored a 1230; improving by over 300 points.
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) invalidated the new test scores stating the reason, “based on substantial agreement between your answers on one of more scored sections of the test and those of other test takers.” They also said the point-increase generally isn’t the only factor that raises a red flag, and that she will need to retake the test if her score is rejected permanently.
Kamilah and her family are fighting back, to fight for her good name and restore the legitimacy of her test scores.
“They tell you you need to practice and work and study to do better but then when you do better, they question it. Because it improved for over 300 points, so they’re saying I improved basically too much and that’s skeptical for them. They are not looking at it as if, ‘Maybe she focused and dedicated herself to passing this test. I’m proud of myself and I need my scores released.” – Kamilah Campbell
The deadline has passed for Kamilah Campbell to apply to Florida State, and for her to apply for the SAT scholarship issued by the state of Florida.
Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion
