Kamilah Campbell said she worked hard to improve her score.
After she got a 900 out of 1600 on the SAT, Kamilah Campbell said she worked hard to improve her score.
Campbell said she studied with a tutor, got a prep book and enrolled in some online courses to prepare her for her second time taking the test. This time, she got a 1230.
But her impressive gain was too much, according to a letter sent to Campbell by the Educational Testing Service, which administers the exam, and her score was invalidated after a preliminary review.
She had been accused of cheating.
"They tell you that you need to practice and work and study to do better," the 18-year-old from Miami Gardens, Florida, told reporters, "but then when you do better they question it."
Campbell only actually learned of her improved score when she called the company, she said, and she is now fighting to get the test score formally released so she can apply to her dream school: Florida State University.
"They're saying I improved basically too much," she said.
But the Educational Testing Service said that there's more to the story and test scores are not only flagged based on gains. The testing service told CBS News there were also discrepancies on Campbell's answer key, and that's part of the reason why her score is under review. Other components, which the company did not disclose, are taken into account as well.
Campbell insists she didn't cheat and is considering a lawsuit because, she claims, the delay has cost her potential scholarships as well as the opportunity to apply for Florida State.
"We intend to fight for the legitimacy of Kamila's test scores," said Campbell's attorney, Benjamin Crump.
"I am proud of myself and I need my scores released," Campbell added.
When contacted for comment, the Educational Testing Service referred InsideEdition.com to this statement.
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