I guess the students always have the option to retake the SAT if they are willing to pay for it and their calendar is otherwise workable. I think it will affect scores but likely a relatively small amount (10-20 points in each of the two affected categories) for most students but more often in the downward direction, particularly the math section since there are now 28 multiple-choice questions plus 10 fill-in questions instead of 44 multiple-choice questions plus 10 fill-in questions. I think that is why CB is careful to use the word "reliable" rather than "accurate".
I think that the more questions, the more accurate the result but that fewer questions should still be reasonably reliable. However, CB may not be able to charge as much and the experience would not be as grueling a rite of passage or as much a test of stamina and consistency.
