So I just took the February 6 ACT test. I wore a digital watch and had turned off the hourly chime days before the test, but of course in the middle of the reading section it beeped three times and then I turned it off. My proctor heard and confiscated my watch and filed an irregularity report, but let me finish the test and said nothing else about the situation. Do you think my reports will be scored? Why is a watch beeping such a big deal anyway?
Prohibited Behavior at the Test Center
http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/taking/prohibited.html
What part of “Allowing an alarm to sound in the test room or creating any other disturbance.” is unclear?
Well considering the beep was quiet and there was more noise coming from outside than what my watch was making, I don’t understand WHY a watch beeping is a big deal. I can read and I realize that ACT doesn’t want them in the test, but WHY?
Why? It disturbs other test takers and is inconsiderate. What might be a quiet disturbance to you could be a serious problem for someone next to you, no matter how quiet you think it is. For someone with ADD, ADHD, autism, etc it could be a serious disturbance.
Well then I wish ACT would be more consistent in how they handle what they consider a distraction. I have been in a test before when someone else’s watch beeped, but nothing happened to them. Also last time I took the test, my proctor’s cell phone rang in the middle of a test and they answered it.
Doesn’t matter what someone else did – you are responsible for knowing the rules and following them.