Should I just cancel my ACT scores?

wowitsjon · 10-25-2009, 09:27 AM

So during the english section of the test, I noticed the girl next to me was putting in almost the exact same answers. Only she was working much faster than I was. So I panicked and decided to copy her answers through out the whole test. Of course I didn't realize the possibility that we might've had different foams till AFTER the test. My heart just completely sank once I realized this. We did have the same essay question tho, but I didn't have to copy for that.

Anyway now I feel like a complete idiot. I think the worse part of it was that I didn't even give myself a chance. I probably had more difficulty coping her than I would've taking the actual test. Should I just call ACT and have them cancel my score? I didn't have them send to any colleges, but my school will see the score. If it's a really low score, and it might be, they may laugh/want an explanation. What do you guys think I should do here?

1253729 · 10-25-2009, 02:42 PM

Don't cancel. As long as you tested outside of Ohio where it seems there were different forms, you will be fine. But more practically, I believe that you need to cancel ACT scores BEFORE you walk out of the testing center. You're bigger problem here is if they notice you copied her answers (you guys will have similar wrong answers). Then, you (and her) will be screwed. They will pretty much cancel your scores from this test and offer you the opportunity of re-testing. But seriously, what a ******-baggy thing to do. You could potentially get her scores canceled. And, seriously dude, if you need to cheat on the ACT to get into college, how are you going to ever pass college? To sum it up, that was pathetic. Hope ACT doesn't notice and don't do it next time.

shiggs13 · 10-25-2009, 03:25 PM

Why would you even copy the answers? What if she was not good at the english section and you copied all the WRONG answers. If you did this whatever happens to you, you really deserve it. And if ur a senior, why would you take such a chance and do that? Are you an idiot? I mean seriously, this is the last chance(if ur a senior) to take the ACT.

oreoegirl14 · 10-25-2009, 04:21 PM

Are you kidding me!!! Why would you copy off someone and risk getting caught. I agree withthe post above. If your a senior , that was your last chance. NOw the girl you copied off of could have her scores not count.

wowitsjon · 10-25-2009, 04:37 PM

Wait so we all had the same forms? With the same questions and answers in the same order? If that's the case I'm a little more relieved. But what are really the chances of them noticing we had the same questions wrong? And how are they even suppose to prove I copied her answers?

And I checked some of the answers she was putting down for english. The ones I checked were definitely right or had a good chance of being right. I dunno about the other sections tho. If they do cancel the score, or it ends up being really low, I could take it again in December.

JAJdude · 10-25-2009, 06:40 PM

I am so glad that you fee sincere for the girl you cheated off on. Good to know that the ACT doesn't have ways of finding cheaters right....?

Oh wait.

wowitsjon · 10-25-2009, 09:32 PM

Like I said before how are they suppose to find out? There are hundreds of thousands of students who took the test. What are really the chances they will notice?

And so basically one of two things have happened here:
1) Either I got the same score that she did, which could be either high or low

or

2) We didn't have the same test and I failed hard

Either way I might have to pay that early fee because I have to know as soon as possible

hasithad · 10-25-2009, 11:32 PM

I would cancel. Put that whole incident behind you and start over.

Carin · 10-26-2009, 12:04 AM

If you get a 36 on the English section, I'd agree that God hates me.

swimcatsmom · 10-26-2009, 12:25 PM

You should cancel them if possible (I know you can cancel having them sent to HS/college up to the thursday after you took the test, not sure if you can cancel the actual score). Better to do that than take the risk of having them cancel your test and the scores of the poor girl you cheated off (and yes they do do that - in these days of computers it is not that hard to compare test results at the same center)ACT Score Information: Cancellation of Scores by ACT

Quote:

ACT reserves the right to cancel test scores when there is reason to believe the scores are invalid.

Cases of testing irregularities—such as falsifying one's identity, impersonating another examinee (surrogate testing), unusual similarities in the answers of examinees at the same test center, or other indicators that the test scores may not accurately reflect the examinee's level of educational development—may result in ACT canceling the test scores.

When ACT decides to cancel an examinee's test scores, it notifies the examinee prior to taking that action (except in cases of testing compromises). This notification includes information about the options available regarding the planned score cancellation, including procedures for appealing that decision.

In all instances, the final and exclusive remedy available to examinees who want to appeal or otherwise challenge a decision by ACT to cancel their test scores shall be binding arbitration through written submissions to the Dallas, Texas, office of the American Arbitration Association. The issue for arbitration shall be whether ACT acted reasonably and in good faith in deciding to cancel the scores.

swimcatsmom · 10-26-2009, 12:33 PM

Quote:

I think the worse part of it was that I didn't even give myself a chance.

Really? You think this is the worst part of it? Seriously?

1253729 · 10-26-2009, 07:24 PM

I'm sorry OP, but you're a self-centered jackass.You aren't even concerned about the person you copied off of. For all you know, she could have been applying ED and this could have been her last shot at the ACT (which you by the way just might have blown). Anyways, if you aren't in Ohio, yes you had the same tests. The questions and answers were in the same order. But, seriously, think of the other people whose life you might have changed with your stupid decision to copy. The worst part of it is you might have screwed someone's application and they might not get into their dream college solely because of YOU.

wowitsjon · 10-26-2009, 08:46 PM

So everyone had the same tests? Oh thank you jesus......

And again I really doubt they will notice we have the same answers. They're aren't ALL exactly the same. And for all we know she might've done horribly on all the other sections. She didn't move as fast in the other sections as she did in english. So now all I can do is wait. If they do cancel the score then it's definitely gonna suck. Honestly I do feel a bit bad. I can't take it back now. All we can do is wait it out and see.

cjgone · 10-27-2009, 01:28 AM

There's a good chance you could be caught. Cancel them and save yourself before you get f***ed up, man.

If you don't get caught and actually get a good score, you'll probably fail out of college anyway i'm guessing. Cheaters don't last long in college.

CollegeWorried · 10-27-2009, 10:36 PM

First off I would like to say that I made an account merely to explain something to 'wowitsjon' here. I am actually interested in using the site now but that is besides the point.

Quote:

And again I really doubt they will notice we have the same answers.

As someone kind of pointed out earlier, in this day and age of technology they check everything. Your proctor the day of created a seating chart which is entered into the computer where it automatically compares missed questions with other test takers and takes your position in the classroom into consideration. If the two correlate then your test is flagged, your scores never reported, and your admissions decisions possibly completely destroyed.

Now since you will probably still not believe this I will plug in some actual numbers to show you how serious this is. The English section contains 75 questions, and since you say you pretty much straight copied this girl you both have the same answers. So lets throw out that you miss 10 questions. A 65/75 is not to bad of a score and would probably earn you something in the high twenties, low low thirties. However the chance of you both missing all of the same questions is much much less than 0.00009%. (This is the chance of you having the same answers for 10 questions, not the same answers for 10 questions out of 75, which would all also be the same.) And then the chance of you having the same answers entirely on the English section alone is less than 0.000000000000000000000000000000000000000001%. Of course if every single one was right there would be justification, but seeing as how they wont be it will be obvious that the two worked together.

This is just a small insight on what I believe to be how the system works. So basically, if 'you' (I hesitate to say that), or she, missed anymore than 3 or 4 questions with the same answers you will be flagged for review, and a few more than that then your test is completely trashed. So you better hope, for this poor girl not for your sorry self, that she did excellent on that test and if possible you should cancel your scores as this is the worst thing you probably possibly could have done. Poor, poor girl.

-Taylor