ACT Testing Wrongly Accusing Cheating

Test Preparation
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I truly feel for anyone in this situation. After reading this thread, it really is scary for the kids. Not sure a retake is fair months after the students have finished. It is a bit different when they are in the test prep mode. Just as posted above, we have seen the results differ from test to test. Some areas up and some down. Unfortunately, I do know of a student with a test drop in one section of at least 8 points. Just said for whatever reason, they found that section hard on the one test. So given then extra pressure, I can see a problem for the students.

It is not fair to invalidate scores so long after without definitive proof.

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@Mhunter1976 , did Rice indicate whether they rescinded her admission because she no longer had a test score, or because she was accused of cheating?

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I am looking for help please my son took his first ACT in Feb 2017 he received a 32 so when his high school told me that they were offering on in March 2017 I called his guidance counselor and tried to opt him out since he did so well in Feb. The school told me sorry it was a requirement at his high school for graduation that he has to take that one. He literally went in filled in bubbles and left by doing this he got a 14. It’s 2018 July and we just got a letter about the cheating. He already graduated and leaves for college in 20 days . I’ve paid the tuition at his college and he has received schlorships already. It’s summer and no one is at his school to talk to what evidence can I get to send in at this point . Why the hell wouldn’t they have said something before he graduated and applyed to college and got excepted ? Help please this will ruin his future

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@ktrrights
Hello! I wanted to give an update on the board. For background, my story starts in post #127 on page 9 of this thread. My initial post included info about receiving our first notification of a score review from ACT on Dec 22, 2017, six months after our daughter took the June 2017 test. I am very grateful for this thread, the shared stories, and the efforts to call out ACT for their corruption. I almost laughed out loud when reading ACT’s official “non-response” to the contents of this thread. Typical form letter, cookie-cutter, legal disclaimer and non-responses that don’t answer any real questions about their practices. Now everyone can see the type of correspondence the students / parents who have appealed the ACT score review have received after we have spent hours compiling records, documents, letters of support, and legitimate proof substantiating scores. Outrageous. They don’t give students any list of guidelines of what to provide that WILL validate a questioned score (because the intend to cancel it), so you send in everything but a sworn affidavit from Jesus Christ himself, and they send you another form letter 6 weeks later quoting their same statistics.

So, as I said in my original post, we sent in a binder with substantial proof supporting the June 2017 score, got our form letter response denying the appeal, and we were once again offered the options - retake, self-cancel the score, or arbitrate. Since ACT had sent a form letter response to all the records we supplied, we did not select one of the options, and instead sent another follow-up letter demanding a person actually answer questions and address the contents of our appeal - Questions such as: If the equivalent SAT score wasn’t enough to validate the ACT, what SAT score would be confirming?, If a 3.7 GPA isn’t enough to validate, what GPA would validate?, If 11 hours of private one-on-one test prep isn’t considered a valid method of improving scores, why does ACT sell test prep and encourage retakes? Why were no basic test security measures implemented (students seated near each other with same test form) when we paid ACT to administer a valid test?.. So many questions were detailed in our follow up letter. After several weeks, we received a response from ACT, and this time, instead of a form letter from test security, we got a letter from an attorney in ACT’s legal department. It was part original correspondence, and part cut-and-paste standardized legal answers.

However, the most shocking contents of the attorney’s response letter were the copies of our daughter’s test booklet and answer sheet, as well as the test booklet and answer sheet of the “source examinee.” We were utterly stunned to receive this information in April 2018, AFTER our score review was completed, and well after our December 23, 2017 letter requesting any and all documents and records in the possession of ACT related to the score review matter. Prior to the score review, the only records ACT sent us were the seating chart, proctor notes, and their statistical score analysis, so we assumed that this was all ACT had on file. We immediately wrote back and brought this to the attorney’s attention and again requested any and all records and documents, including those from the June 2017 test and the Feb 2017 test (two scores were being compared due to score increase). We received another letter with the answer sheet from the Feb 2017 test and an option sheet that included self-canceling the score, arbitration, or reopening the score review by providing new and compelling evidence for the panel to consider. Upon examining the answer sheets with our daughter, she was able to explain that the bubbling/ erasure similarities on her answer sheet and the “source examinee” in the last column of each section were not due to copying, but were because she had used a strategy of bubbling in all the same answers in the last column of each block of bubbles (straight down the row, such as all B’s) so in case she ran out of time at least something would be bubbled for potential credit. If she had time, she went back and answered the question, erased and changed her bubble sheet. Her written answers in the test booklet supported this explanation, but the most compelling proof of all was the fact that she had used the exact same technique / same bubble pattern on her Feb 2018 ACT answer sheet, completely independent of the “source examinee.” We selected the option for a reopening of the score review in light of new evidence that we should have been provided back in Dec 2017, prior to the first score review, and we requested that the file be reexamined in its entirety since the totality of the evidence is overwhelmingly in our daughter’s favor and we were not treated fairly or ethically throughout the process.

We are now waiting on ACT’s response, but we fully expect to receive another denial because that is their playbook. This will be added to our ever-growing binder of evidence that we will provide to our daughter’s college should the need arise. In the meantime, she has attended orientation and we are moving forward with future plans.

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My son graduated in may took the ACT in April 2017 now July 2018 we get a letter that stating that theres a issue with his score. He only took the ACT one time studied with a tutor for 3 months and scored a 28 now two weeks from going away to college on a full scholarship and this happens i dont no what to do. Does he take the test over or do we appeal it i need advice.

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Are you saying they contacted you 15 MONTHS after the test? We were contacted 5 months after the test and I assumed that was horrible. There should be some sort of regulation on the time they have to contact everyone back concerning irregularities. I, myself, chose to appeal and arbitrate. We are starting the arbitration process now. We, by no means had a full scholarship, however, my child did receive a small scholarship based upon GPA, involvement, etc. She has to maintain a certain GPA in college to retain the scholarship so I began to ask myself what I was fighting for. I’m fighting for my child’s innocence. This “ordeal” has not only put her back on meds but a thriving, eager to learn child had to go back on medicine for anxiety and not to mention their confidence level. I’m sure with the letter you received you were given 3 options, they drop the score, your son retake the test in a private setting or appeal. It is so unfair to ask our children to retake a test that they originally took and scored well on and they had moved on with the graduation and college practice. I have read through this site different stories as far as Universities taking the scholarship and also students speaking with the colleges and everything being okay. Good luck with everything.

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Yes 15 months later his score is flagged he is so upset right now as I am he was leaving for College in 2 weeks now we don’t no what to do. We were going to appeal but it will take too long so he is going to have to take the test over. He had a wonderful tutor who spent a lot of time with prepping for this and she is not available to help with this test. I am horrified by what is going on I am wondering if the other students that took the test the same day got letters like we did.

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Does anybody know if there’s a time limit after they get there score that they can revoke it?

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This is absolutely absurd! I am so sorry to hear this. We need to class action dot com the ACT. They need to be regulated and controlled or better yet closed down. I do not know of a time limit but there has to be one. Call Fair Testing you can google fair test.

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@cabrik. I am also sorry to read about your situation. Have you spoken with the college your son will be attending? Before I had my son sit for another ACT, I would contact the college and see if it is even necessary.

The June SAT received quite a bit of media attention. In my opinion, what is going on with the ACT is far worse, yet there has been no media attention about this issue at all.

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@Cabrik has your son contacted his college? They may be able to provide some guidance on what he should do. Be sure to mention number of times taken (once) and timing! (15 mos. ago).

We don’t have a horse in this race, but IMHO if ACT were trying to encourage more schools to go Test Optional they couldn’t be doing a better job of it. Perhaps the colleges can fight this battle with ACT. They actually have a lot more influence than do individual families.

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This is a good point. ACT is messing with the college’s enrollment.

Waiting 15 months is beyond outrageous. I can’t imagine a justification for that (…tortious interference?).

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@cabrik I would actually choose the appeal route. By the time you get through the appeal your son will probably have already finished his first semester at college. I’m sure you have read in the paperwork that your son actually has that score on record until it goes through appeals/arbitration. In the meantime you can have your son register for the ACT, however, if it like my situation she totally did horrible on the ACT follow up because of the pressure that was on her. Our family and my child’s college time has been horrible through their Senior year and now beginning of college. I can’t believe this is legal especially when recommendation letters and GPA backs up the scores. I can honestly tell you that my child’s GPA dropped from 3.6 to a 3.2 in the months following this accusation. She had so much going on with graduation and planning for college that she was totally stressed to the max! And still is.

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I have requested a retest against my wishes but I think it’s what needs to be done, I have also contacted a attorney and have sent him the letter we received so he is looking into this. This is all just heart wrenching all excited one min prepping for college and in the blink of a eye your head is spinning over this.

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FairTest has a media contact number. FairTest at (617) 477-9792.
They also have a facebook page and Twitter. I wonder if they’d be interested in all this? I have to say that 15 months later seems absolutely ridiculous.

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Thank you for that info I am going to call it tomorrow.

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@Cabrik I am so sorry about what you now have to deal with, and I am angry for what you and so many of us are going through with ACT. It is horrific, stressful, and makes you feel powerless against this giant corporation that can reach out to you (your child) and to colleges with impersonal form letters that have such a negative impact on your child, their emotions, and their future. As a parent who is also dealing with an ACT test security appeal, I feel your disgust and frustration. I thought it was horrible business practices to notify us 6 months after taking the test, and hearing you were notified 15 months after your son took the test is inexcusable! With tests being scored by a computer, there is absolutely no reason that ACT cannot have their analysis completed within 4 weeks of the test being scored. Their practices are outrageous and at the very least should amount to some sort of breach of contract since parents pay them to administer a secure, valid, verifiable test that students can use for college admission purposes. We pay ACT to administer the test, then pay them again for each time they send the scores to colleges. Surely that exchange of money for services should be done in good faith that they are backing the scores they send out, NOT still analyzing and questioning them. Their practices need to be regulated and if enough states’ departments of education or attorneys general got involved they might be reigned in. It would be great if colleges just stopped asking for these test scores and put them out of business though.

Regarding the letter your son received 15 months after the test date… What was ACT’s stated reason for questioning the validity of the score 15 months later? Did they say there was a testing irregularity at the testing center that day such as the test being mis-administered (timing error, proctor issues, etc.), or did the letter say something along the lines of your son’s answers were similar to another tester (the “source examinee”) and it is statistically improbable (basically accusing your son of copying another tester’s answers). In our case, the form letter accusing our daughter stated that she was given the same test form as the person seated next to her (really top notch test security measures there) and that her answers (in two of the four testing categories) were too similar to the other tester. We have been battling ACT since Dec 2017.

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Good morning looking at the letter which is 7 pages is probably a standard letter, stated that the unusual high numbers of identical responses and identical incorrect responses caused us to question the validity of your April 2017 scores. I did get a call back yesterday from the ACT and was told that when they receive his request for a new date that it would take 4 to 5 weeks told her I need this done ASAP as my son is ready for school and had planned on leaving Aug 1 was told they they will send a letter out to me when they find a proctor in my area the letter will have there info and we will have to get in contact with them to set a date place and time. Then wait for his score. Was told His score is still valid until the new score comes out, I did speak with a attorney who is looking into this matter today. Also wrote to the Fair Testing to see if there’s anything that can be done.
I have gone grey overnight ugh.

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Wow. Please keep us posted on what the attorney says. So much pressure for your son. I will definitely say a prayer for your situation. I’m assuming you didn’t mention to them that it had been 15 MONTHS and question that? I would have liked to know the reply. And yes, that is a standard letter as that is the same letter that we received. Your son will have to score within 3 points of the questioned score to keep that score. I hope that’s not an issue. In my case my child is OVERLOADED AND STRESSED and couldn’t get anywhere close to that score under such pressure. I had to put her on medicine after this incident for her to focus. I thought we were way past this.

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@Cabrik, yes, you got the same standard letter we received. I thought maybe the 15 months past test date may have been because they recently became aware of issues with the proctor or something irregular that happened during the administration of the test that day. I cannot believe that it is related to their faulty, bogus statistical analysis and they have done this to your family 15 months after the test! Their business practices are appalling! It is hard to know what is best to do. If you are fairly confident your son can score within 3 points of his questioned score, even under pressure, then retesting may be your best route. On the other hand, if you appeal and the process plays out through his first semester (the appeals process can take several weeks to months depending on if you need extensions to gather evidence since school is out and his teachers/ tutor are on vacation…), if he makes the grades he needs in his college courses to maintain his scholarship eligibility and has established a good record at college, met professors, become involved in clubs, and everything is in good standing, the college would have no reason to rescind his admission or scholarship if he has already shown he can meet their requirements. I hope the attorney can give you some good advice on which direction to go. Our daughter has a SAT score that her college considers equivalent to her questioned ACT score, so her admission and scholarship eligibility haven’t changed. We sent the equivalent SAT scores to ACT and referred to the College Board score concordance tables which show her SAT scores are equivalent (this chart is used by colleges, too), yet ACT claims that they did not participate in the preparation of this most recent score concordance table (although they have done so on past tables), so they do not consider it valid. I asked what SAT score they would consider equivalent to my daughter’s questioned ACT score and they did not provide an answer. We are continuing to fight this battle on the principle of the fact that our daughter did not cheat, she invested countless hours studying and preparing for the test (not to mention the $ we paid the tutor to help her prepare leading up to the test date, the $ we paid for the ACT test, and the $ we paid to have the scores sent to colleges). ACT’s methods are completely corrupt and based on faulty statistics and analysis, and they need to be held accountable!