This is a silly story.
Of course the scores are lower. They've changed the test dramatically, made it much longer and more difficult. It is totally unfair to compare it with scores from prior years.
A few years ago -- late 90's -- SAT "re-centered" the scoring scale. No difference in test content, just a different way of reporting scores. An old 1100 became a 1200, etc. It was a statistical correction, but people tried to compare old scores with new ones then, too.
Hogwash. It's a whole new test this year, completely incomparable with years past.
As for taking the test more than once, that, too, has been common practice for years. Generally, kids take it first as high school juniors to acquaint themselves with the structure, content, and length of the exam, then "for real" as high school seniors. Difference in scores is usually minimal. All of my sons did that, and we're talking maybe 20 points difference between the tests, which could be attributed to a couple of good guesses or maybe just another year of maturity.
This doesn't reflect badly on anybody. Quit the mullygrumping and move on.
"Of course the scores are lower. They've changed the test dramatically, made it much longer and more difficult. It is totally unfair to compare it with scores from prior years."
Great post but it won't stop the "I walked 25 miles to school uphill both ways" posters.