Poll: When do you usually finish tests?

I was always a fast test taker. I was typically the first one done no matter what the subject matter as long as it wasn't long essay questions. I think quickly but write slowly. In seventh grade science the teacher gave multiple choice tests. He'd say, "first done; first fail;" while we were taking it. On the first test when I handed it in early he went to prove his point by grading it on the spot. I got a 96. He announced that and did a stage grimace. He was a great teacher. That was actually a bonding moment. Now that I'm a teacher I see that the first people done either do terribly, they finish early because they can't even start the problems, or very well. The last people done usually do poorly; they are the ones that can't accept that they don't know how to do the problems and hope for divine inspiration. There are some exceptions. I had two A students this semester that stayed to the end of tests.

I don't know how fast he did it but my son scored the highest in his technology magnet school on the PSAT's.

I'm usually the first one done.  I always give it a minute and look around to see if someone else is going to get up and hand their test in.  I haven't had a score of less than 98% in... ooh.. a long time.  Which always makes me feel really bad as I tend to study less than most of the people in the class,  and I have usually made a comment before the test about how maybe I should have done more than skim through the material. 
I love tests quite a bit, what a rush.

I've always been one of the first ones done usually, the exception being where there's an essay question and no time limit. Then I would sometimes miss lunch.

I draw the line at missing lunch! No grade is worth more than a peanut butter sandwich.

due to signing up late, i had to take the SAT's in the untimed room. apparently you're supposed to let them know after finishing each section, which i was unaware. the lady thought i was really slow, finishing the first section after an hour and 15 minutes, but actually, it was the whole test in 1:15.

mind you, i didn't know i was taking it that day. my mom woke me up with "cmon, we're going to the SAT's" after only 2 hours of sleep. all that considered, no preparation + 1:15 for the test + 2 hours of sleep = 1360. not bad, i figured. never did find out how i'd do if i took my time, and did some prepwork ahead of that.

show off

I was less interested in showing off than I was in taking off, indeed.

Heh... I took the entrance exam to my specialized high school with 103 degree fever. I came out of the test and mom asked how it was and I was smiling and said "Oh... it was great!" so she rushed me home and put me to bed.

I always become very pleasant when I'm sick.

haven't they changed the way the sat's are scored now? For some reason I feel like they did... and it either made my score really good or really bad.

heh

A written portion was added.  No cultural or economic bias there.

That test is a bigger sham than ever.

Yup, they have the new writing section now, which is also scored between 200 and 800. So the highest possible SAT score now is 2400. Makes all us old folks' scores sound terrible. :)

Of course, most of my students' scores barely qualify as mediocre on the OLD scale... sigh.

There was also a recentering of the test. I think it was about ten years ago. The old average was close to 900 so they made that the new 1000.

I think it was a little over 10 years ago, because I'm pretty sure by the first time I took an SAT they had already done the recentering. And that was in....95? Damn. When did I get so old that I took the SAT over 10 years ago?

I got a perfect score on the analytical section of the GRE's. I rock!

I got perfect on the written so :oP

Well my slide rule is bigger than yours!

Oh yeah, I have one of those giant slide rules they use for classroom demonstrations!

OK I don't but I wish I did. I do have a regular slide rule and I still know how to use it.

You have a giant protractor and compass of shady origin.  What more do you want?

Don't tell people that I associate with a thief! It will ruin my reputation. They'll think I need a giant moral compass.

This discussion is inordinately protracted.

You always have to have an angle.

At least I'm not being obtuse.

So you think you are acute? Or maybe right? Or is this just a reflex?

I detect a lack of congruence in your tone.

I used to teach courses in the analytical section of the GRE and the LSATs and the math SAT, and lots of other tests.