<p>Lol, cheating is so commmon on these standarized tests. SAT/ACT percentiles are probably not indictive of what they really are because of cheaters. What’s even worse is that its very easy to cheat.
In miami, many of the prep/magnet school kids go to liberity city to take the standarized tests because, frankly, the proctors there dont care. Cheaters can easily text answers, share scantrons, or w/e.
The easiest way to cheat here is to get a fake ID. They’re not hard to find (craiglist) and the proctors won’t recognize the difference between a real ID and fake ID. This type of cheating has also become a huge business too (1k+ per test). Many people here do it.
All I can say is I wish collegeboard realized that we’re not naive students who wouldnt do something so “evil.” I blame cheaters for the bright futures cut here in florida. In the last 3 or 4 years, its gone from full tuition per year -> 3k per year. Things here are no different from a third world country.</p>
<p>One idea to fix ringing could be to have every student take the standardized test on one single day, like how they do in Korea and China. People can’t take the test for other people because they’d be too busy taking their own test (unless you get someone in a different grade level to take it for you). Of course Collegeboard and ACT can’t make as much money off of this so I don’t think it’d ever happen.</p>
<p>That would also prevent everyone from being able to retake it as necessary though. The fact that there’s 6 or 7 testings a year allows people to choose how and when they want to prepare for the test, and gives people the opportunity to have more than one or two tries if they need it.</p>
<p>I didn’t believe what I wrote was rude, actually. I was simply stating how we’re having cheating problems over here, especially and particuarly on the ACT, and why I assume people are cheating, and really how bad the tests are. I was merely stating my opinion, and I am sorry if it came across as rude, it wasn’t intended. Nor do I mean to be rude to you, either.</p>
<p>lolz.
I did not mean you were stupid, I meant the topic that the random kid in your school wrote about. ^_^</p>
<p>Oh well. forget it.</p>
<p>I remember reading an article sometime ago about how private school parents were paying psychiatrists to diagnose their children with ADHD just so they could get extra time on the SAT</p>
<p>@Yakyu Spirits:</p>
<p>Yeah, the cameras/palm scans would be expensive, so scratch them. Fingerprinting is more than realistic, however, as schools would not each need a machine and would instead do what LSAT/MCAT test centers do: send the prints to a central location where they are stored on a single database and secured. </p>
<ol>
<li>Fingerprinting</li>
<li>TWO forms of government issued ID</li>
<li>Good proctors - hard to be uniform, though. I’m thinking unmarried, retired, female librarians would be great.</li>
</ol>
<p>Oh, that was just horrible…in a slightly funny way. All of us read through his essay, and just couldn’t believe it. Must admit, it was writen well:D</p>
<p>I think that the biggest problems are </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Having someone else take test for you.</p></li>
<li><p>People getting hold of test overseas.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>My solutions</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Anyone taking test at other than their home HS has their picture taken, attached to file, and school notified, Test taken elsewhere.</p></li>
<li><p>Overseas – everyone takes test at the same time. Would be tough, but doable. Other alternative is much better security. Cut down locations. Both overseas and at hom.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>ETS is aware of these problems, but does nothing. They just want their fees. It is time for the colleges to demand better security.</p>
<p>
The IB has already dealt with a lot of these problems, and CB would do well to look at what IBO has implemented: multiple tests for multiple timezones. Sure, it’s expensive, but it does prevent cheating.</p>
<p>
I’m sick of people asserting that ETS is some money-hungry organization. They are a <em>non-profit</em> and do try to provide a valuable service. If they were interested in making money, their courses and books would cost a LOT more (they could easily demand it—they’re the test maker!).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>No, you shouldn’t feel bad; you did him a favor. If he had gotten into his dream school, he would have likely done poorly and been miserable. Because of your refusal, he is probably in a school that is more suited for him, allowing for a more enjoyable college experience on his part.</p>
<p>I recall reading in Up Your Score (A prep book) that two students cheated by means of M&M’s. When one student ate a particular color of M&M it corresponded to an answer on the test (A-E)</p>
<p>I thought you weren’t allowed to eat during the test?</p>
<p>For the final 10 minute writing section our proctor was distracted reading some magazine so we had about 14 minutes. Not that I needed it. Some girl next to me was on #5 though</p>
<p>If you retake the SAT and if your score is 200 or 300 points higher you automatically get red flagged. I forget the exact point increase. So cheating on your 2nd or 3rd try could get suspicious if you have a huge increase in score.</p>
<p>fyi</p>
<p>I remember my proctor starting to doze off it was so funny I was hoping she would fall asleep but oh well</p>
<p>@aStyle: I’m not sure about that. For instance, if you had a 2100, then got a 50 point increase in two categories on your second attempt, making it 2200, then got another 50 point increase in two categories, making it 2300, I don’t think that is sketchy.</p>
<p>EX. 1st Attempt: 670 CR 750 M 690 W (T: 2110)
2nd Attempt: 720 CR 800 M 690 W (T: 2210)
3rd Attempt: 770 CR 800 M 740 W (T: 2310)</p>
<p>From your first to third attempt, you’ve gone up 200 points. Is this sketchy? Not to me. You went up in bits and pieces–showed that you studied harder and perhaps are becoming smarter. Either way, your scores are your scores.</p>
<p>@aStyle: I doubt that’s true, since there are many legitimate reasons why someone can increase 200-300 points. For example, someone could increase that much if he was sick one testing day and took it again on a good day after studying really hard.</p>
<p>
Nope, not at all. I have seen these kinda situations.</p>
<p>
LOL.</p>
<p>Man, if I was a good tester, I would take the test for somebody every time. I don’t understand you guys. I once took a friend’s make-up test at high school. It was fun.</p>
<p>^^^ Hope it wasn’t a reading test . . .</p>