a Florida high school student is defending herself after her improved SAT
scores were called invalid the second time the Camila Campbell took the test
her score went up by more than 300 points the testing company called that
result invalid they say because her answers were similar to those of other
test takers the Campbell insists she did not cheat joining us now is Camila
Campbell and her attorney Benjamin Crump great to see both of you
this morning thanks so much for being with us so Camila let's start at the
beginning the first time that you took the SAT I think you got a score of 900
what did you think of that score what was your plan after that um that school
is just a basic baseline for me I just took it to get a feel for I was like you
know my strengths and weaknesses in the test so from that point I just know okay
well I needed to work on this I need to work on that because it let me know what
was my weakness okay and that's where her high school guidance counselor told
her to do to take a bait so that you're the Guidance concerts adjusted taking
the test for the first time without any prep whatsoever to get a baseline after
you got that test score which is not let's face it an impressive test score
you then as we understand it you took online classes you got a tutor you got
yourself a prep book that so many other students use and you took the test again
and what score did you get that time oh my god it's 12:30 which is really
impressive that is just an impressive improvement and then you heard from the
testing company and they said that your test was invalid and your results were
invalid and what did you think of their conclusions they didn't really give me a
basis on why they think it's valid they just basically said that I improved a
little too much so it's kind of skeptical so I was I was confused it was
it wasn't fair so I just wanted to know more information mr. Crump here's what
the College Board statement is they say the students scores were placed under
review because of significant evidence of score invalidity due to substantial
agreement between your answers on one or more scored sections of the test and
those of other test takers in other words they're not saying that they
flagged it because she improved they're saying that they found something
suspicious between the answers that she had along with other test takers in the
way they've all got either questions right or wrong Allison this is one of
the where they're saying two different things but the story keeps evolving but
this is one of the most unamerican things that I have ever seen you are
guilty and two proven innocent I mean and worse than that you're not told the
specific allegations against you I mean criminals get more due process than our
children who have to be accountable to this SAT Educational Testing Service
this private corporation who tries to sit in determination as the measure for
human achievement and academic excellence
she studied harder than she's ever studied in her life she focused more she
sacrificed more she checked all the boxes did everything right but yet she
has now been accused of being a cheater and why they say oh you just have to
take our word for it that there's some that we see that's wrong yeah you know
you need to tell us well here's one of the things that they've said to us they
give CNN a statement this is the third full screen the graphic that we have
another piece of evidence that can be reviewed in a score validity analysis is
the students answer sheet and for example whether the students scratch
work in his or her chest testing booklet shows calculations or other notes as
legitimate test takers commonly have or whether the booklet is blank kamila do
you do you remember taking notes do you think that that would help clear all of
this up
I don't recall I believe some tests work I did take scratch work off of but when
you take the test they let you know beforehand that your scratch work will
not be graded nor noticed
one more thing Camila they say that they suggest that you take the test again do
you can you do that no she's not gonna do that it is I asked her to do that
just like the movie standing deliver they want these students to be
accountable to them but this system is not accountable to anybody
I mean it's so such power and authority that they were arbitrarily I've gotten
calls from now over 15 person the country saying they did this to my child
too they try to beat these young people into submission but this time they're
gonna have to be accountable as well yeah we've talking to her congressional
member there is no oversight for this private corporation that has all this
power to decide the future young people that's a great point very quickly have
you heard from Oprah is Oprah trying to get involved in Camille's case everybody
has been reaching out to us saying that they stand with her and so right now
she's focused this time is of the essence Allison they're making decisions
whether they accept or reject her and the scholarship process she's a has a
single-mother household this is real to them this 12:30 makes a big difference
whether she's going to get into the College of her dreams and whether they
can afford it absolutely we understand that your dream is to go to Florida
State University you want to major in dance and we will be following your case
Camilo very closely because we want to know what the resolution of all of this
is mr. Crump Camilla thank you very much for the update