New security measures for the SAT & ACT
The SAT and ACT exams have had their fair share of cheating scandals over the years. One of the most infamous cases happened in 2012, when seven students from a well-known Long Island high school paid a college student thousands of dollars to take the SAT for them.
After this, the College Board decided to introduce new security measures to protect the fairness of the tests and make sure every student’s score truly reflects their own effort.
For those enrolled in SAT ACT prep courses, it’s important to understand these changes so you can feel more confident and prepared. Here’s a quick look at the new security rules that will be in place for future SAT and ACT exams prep sessions.
Key Security Updates for the ACT and SAT
There are several security-related changes to the registration process for both the SAT and ACT exams (quoted from their websites below). The gist of these changes is:
All scores will be reported to the student’s high school; thus, Florida public-school students cannot automatically prevent scores from being posted to their transcripts. Whether it will be possible to have selected scores removed from a transcript remains to be seen.
SAT will no longer allow for stand-by testing.
ACT will require 4-day-advance registration for stand-by testing.
Both tests will require a passport photo at the time of registration (in addition to the picture ID presented at the test center)
Students’ identification will be checked more carefully than ever on test day.
SAT SECURITY-RELATED CHANGES
The following enhanced security measures will be implemented during the 2012-13 academic year and apply to students participating in any of the seven national and six international SAT and SAT Subject Tests™ administrations that take place during a given academic year:
1. Registration Enhancements:
Students will be required to provide the name of their attending high school during registration. Once SAT registration opens for the 2012-13 school year, registrations submitted without attending high school will not be processed.
Students will be required to submit a current, recognizable photo during registration that will be included on a new photo admission ticket.
Students registering online will be required to upload a digital photo.
Students registering by mail will be required to enclose a photo with the paper registration form.
Students who want to change the type of test they intend to take (i.e., SAT rather than SAT Subject Tests or vice versa) must do so in advance. Test-type changes will no longer be permitted on test day.
2. Test-Day Enhancements:
Students will be required to preregister for the SAT and SAT Subject Tests. Additionally:
Students will be required to test at the center designated on their admission ticket. Test center changes will no longer be permitted on test day.
Students will be required to present their photo admission ticket for admittance to their designated test center.
Students who registered online will be able to print out their admission ticket by logging onto their online College Board account.
Students who registered by mail can choose to have the admission ticket mailed or emailed prior to test day.
Students arriving at the test center without both their photo admission ticket and an acceptable form of photo ID will not be admitted to the test center.
The Test Center Supervisor rosters used to admit test-takers to the test center will include each test-taker’s:
First and last name
Date of birth
Gender
Test type (SAT or SAT Subject Tests)
Attending high school
Test center supervisors also will have access to a printable on-line register of the photos uploaded during registration for each student registered to test at that test center.
Test-takers will be subject to additional ID checks throughout test day:
Upon entry to test center
Upon entry to their test room
Upon reentry to their test room following breaks
Upon collection of their answer sheet
Test-takers will be required to sign a more comprehensive certification statement on the SAT answer sheet:
Attesting to the accuracy of the information provided on their admission ticket and answer sheet
Agreeing to comply with all test security and fairness policies
Acknowledging that engaging in impersonation could result in referral to law enforcement and prosecution.
3. Post-Test-Day Enhancements:
High schools will automatically receive scores for all test-takers enrolled at that high school.
A registration data repository will be created containing the information and photo provided by the test-taker at the time of registration and used to produce the photo admission ticket required for test center admittance. High schools, colleges and universities, and other institutions that receive SAT scores will have access to the repository, as will the ETS Office of Testing Integrity. The registration data repository will not include test scores.
ACT SECURITY-RELATED CHANGES
The following enhancements will safeguard a level playing field for all test takers and help ensure the continued integrity of ACT score results:
Students will upload or otherwise submit (via ACT website, smart phone, or mail) a recognizable head-and-shoulders photo of themselves at the time they register—online or by mail—for the ACT.
The photo will be printed on the student's ticket, which the student will be required to bring to the test center. Students who fail to bring their ticket will not be admitted to the test.
The student's photo will also be printed on the examinee roster that testing staff use to check in students on test day.
In addition to their ticket, students will be required to bring and present an acceptable photo ID on test day.
On test day, test center staff will match the name and photo on the student’s admission ticket, the examinee roster, and the student’s photo ID to the student who arrives to take the test before granting the student admission. Test center staff may also check the student’s identification throughout the test session.
In addition to submitting a photo, students will provide ACT with their gender and with the name of the high school they attend. ACT will use this information to help match the examinee’s identity throughout the testing process.
Both before and after testing, students will provide written affirmation that they are the person whose name appears on the test booklet and answer sheet which they have submitted. They will also acknowledge that assuming anyone else’s identity to take the test may be a violation of law and be subject to legal penalty.
ACT may visit test centers to conduct enhanced test security procedures on test day, including collecting images of examinees during check-in and/or other security activities.
After tests have been scored, the student’s photo will be printed on the score report that will be automatically sent to the high school attended by the student. Score integrity can then be reinforced by the people who know the students best—the teachers and counselors at their schools.
Standby testing will still be an option, but changes will be made in that process as well. Students will no longer be able to simply show up on test day and take the ACT. They will need to register their intent to test on a standby basis ahead of time, most likely by the Wednesday before the test date.
Standby test takers will be required to follow the same procedures as all other test takers, including providing a photo to ACT prior to test day and presenting a standby ticket that includes that photo.
When the new procedures are in place, students’ score reports will be sent to their high school automatically; students will no longer have an option to withhold their scores.
HOW DO THESE CHANGES IMPACT TEST PREPARATION?
The new security measures can impact how students need to prepare leading up to the exam. While SAT ACT prep classes are, of course, important, you also need to pay close attention to administrative and security requirements to avoid any last-minute issues.
1. Organizing IDs
Make sure your ID is valid, up-to-date, and matches the name on your test registration. A mismatch could prevent you from taking the test. Also, make sure your ID is government-issued and not expired.
2. Registering Early
With stricter guidelines around registration, it’s important to register as early as possible. If you plan to switch locations or test types, these changes must be made ahead of time.
3. Familiarizing Yourself with Test Day Procedures
Make sure you know where your test center is located and arrive early to allow time for these checks. Following all instructions from the proctors is key to avoiding any unnecessary complications.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The new security measures for the SAT and ACT exams play a key role in making sure every student's hard work is fairly represented in their scores. By staying informed and preparing for these updates, students can avoid test-day surprises and focus on doing their best.
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