ACT Testing Wrongly Accusing Cheating

Clearly the process seems extremely unfair in your daughter’s case and I do believe she didn’t cheat. But the last statistics I saw showed more than 1.85 million students took the ACT—and I’m guessing the number of students flagged for unusual jumps in scores is quite small or there would be many more reports of this occurring. And for me at least, it’s extremely important that ACT takes steps to combat cheating. Yes, I think cheating is fairly common, including domestically, and ACT has to attempt to protect the integrity of its tests. (I won’t go into details, but there’s a situation at my child’s school with the SAT where cheating off another student has been admitted.)

Frankly, I don’t think a petition would do a thing. The only thing that might would be an actual lawsuit against the ACT, if you truly feel the extended appeal and arbitration process was corrupt or flawed. Perhaps you could find an organization that opposes standardized testing to take on your case and pay your legal fees.

I understand why you didn’t have your daughter take a re-test, but I do think your case is significantly weakened by that choice. The default perception becomes that the student did cheat but doesn’t want to admit it to his or her parents (again, I don’t believe that’s the case for your daughter.)

I do wish you well. I admire people who fight for what they believe is right.

If the retest were fair and verifiable then I could see it. However, I feel strongly that ACT does not give a fair retest. I have had over 2 hour recorded conversations with ACT attorney, Mike Clifton and the Sr. Manager, Mike Trevitt of the Test Security dept. Both refuses to answer questions pertaining to the retest.

Here are a few more examples of the actions of ACT.
www.timesreporter.com/news/…/act-sent-wrong-tests-to-21-ohio-school-districts In Ohio They fought and Won

https://www.knoxnews.com/story/news/2017/…/students…mayor…act…/875546001/ Tennessee Fought and lost

https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1210&context=elj Cheaters Proof

Even if the retake was done and the child does not score as high does not mean they cheated. The board waits so long to advise there is an issue. These kids are out of the prep mode. The kids are prepping and working for the ACT/SAT tests. Taking the ACT is endurance as well as knowledge. You build endurance. Also…everyone excels in different areas. Sometimes all planets align and all of their strong areas are on that one test. I have a child who took a proctored practice in June and scored a 20. Then after a bit of prep for the SAT took another proctored test and scored a 30. It can be done. I feel terrible for those wrongfully accused.

ACT does it again. The state obviously fought this and won but it’s terrible that they are putting students through this kind of stress. Scroll to the bottom story for the initial report.
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/35578518/act-scores-voided-after-testing-confusion

Please share to all you know

One of the biggest investments anyone can make is in the future of children. For eighteen years parents and teachers encourage students to do their best, believe in themself and work hard in school. Upon high school graduation, students apply for colleges and universities all over the United States in pursuit of their dreams and goals of becoming independent, educated and successful adults. Standardized testing is one of the most stressful contributors to the pressure these students face during their junior and senior years. In addition these scores are required to be accepted by most American higher education schools. So, what if your child received a letter from the ACT organization informing them that their test scores, that were already submitted to universities, is being cancelled due to suspected cheating? These accusations from the ACT organization have been a growing problem for years and continues to get worse, affecting undeserving high school seniors all across America.

The ACT test was introduced in November 1959 by University of Iowa professor Everett Franklin Lindquist, as a competitor to the Scholastic Aptitude Test. This test is taken by students all over the world in hopes of being accepted into American higher education schools. ACT has had an increasing problem internationally with “intentional, flagrant cheating.” This is largely due to a program known as  the Global Assessment Certificate which is owner by the ACT organization. The GAC program cost students over $10,000 a year, which offers many students advantages over others that is not widely advertised. The GAC officials and proctors often times ignored complicit cheating on the ACT tests according to multiple students interviewed by Reuters (Stecklow, 2016). As a result of this, cheating students in Asia have been accepted  into U.S. top universities taking the limited attendance spots of many qualified students that could have been accepted with qualified passing scores.   

The ACT international cheating problem has not only proven to be corrupt but has also proven to be impacting American students by denying them the opportunity to be accepted into universities across the United States by cancelling their qualified ACT scores through another corrupt process of falsely accusing these students of cheating. Many people have asked why the ACT would engage in such practices. The reason for this is due to the commitment that the ACT organization has made to higher education school officials across America. This ensures these schools that fair and secure testing is conducted so that scores accepted by these schools are from students who are qualified (Goldschneider, 2006). These officials rely on this commitment to protect the quality of students being accepted into the limited enrollment opportunities available. 

The ACT organization encourages students to take the test multiple times, a maximum of 12 times to according to the ACT terms and agreements in the ACT Student Test Prep Handbook. In many cases high schools will require that all students take the ACT during their junior year. Due to many of the test contents not being covered until a students senior year, many students do not score well the first time. As a result, many students will take recommended prep courses and tutoring offered through high schools and the ACT organization in effort to improve their scores. Once a student has taken the test multiple times, the ACT will conduct an internal scan of test results looking for students who have increased their score results by 4 or more points. The ACT waits over four months before notifying students that their most recent scores are being cancelled due to irregularities (cheating). During the four months that it took the ACT to notify these unsuspecting students, these seniors have turned these scores in with applications to universities, and in many cases have been accepted (parents across the U.S., 2017). As a result, these schools are notified of the cancelled scores, which shows the universities that the committed security measures are being upheld by the ACT. The affected students will then get an opportunity to retake the ACT test or appeal the decision. The appeal process goes through a review with the same Test Security Department that cancels the score. Ironically this is also the department that administers the test, scans the results, controls the appeal panel and produces all the statistical results used in justifying this manipulated and corrupt process. In short they are the accuser, the jury and the prosecutor making it virtually impossible for any student to defend themself against these false accusations. 

The ACT organization's goal is to provide American universities Test Security results that will offset the widespread international cheating scandal. To accomplish this, they not only impact students individually but also entire school districts. In Knox County, TN. for example,  the ACT cancelled the scores of 409 students due to what they claim was an error in the test. Although they mayor of Bearden County appealed the decision the students lost the fight (Crowe & Wade, 2017).  A similar situation affected over 19,500 students in Ohio when the ACT organization claims to have administered an incorrect tests resulting in the cancellation of the scores. This not only affected these students emotionally and physiologically but also the risk students could run into by missing application and scholarship deadlines to some institutions of higher learning due to a lack of an ACT score (Aubry, 2017). Due to the significance of backlash the ACT organization then overturned their decision and reinstated the students scores. 

The future of our children depend on the protection of our educational system and the officials that run it. Students all across America are required, in many school districts, to take the ACT test, regardless that they are unregulated, un-monitored and not audited by any third party agency. The unethical practice of this standardized testing administrator has impacted the future of our children for many generations. This problem of the ACT organization falsely accusing students of cheating continues to grow and will continue to worsen until awareness is made and regulation efforts are enforced. Spreading awareness of these facts is an investment to the future of all students across the country.  Unknown to future seniors, they all depend on it.  ktrrights

References:
Stecklow, S. (2016) Students and teachers detail pervasive cheating in a program owned by test giant ACT
Retreived from: https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/college-cheating-act/

Goldschneider, A (2006) Cheater 's Proof: Excessive Judicial Deference toward Educational Testing Agencies May Leave Accused Examinees No Remedy to Clear Their Names
Retreived from: https://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/elj/vol2006/iss1/3/

College Confidential (2017) College Confidential: ACT Testing Wrongly Accusing Cheating 2017
Retrieved from: https://www.collegeconfidential.com/

Crow, M & Wade, M (2017) ACT denies appeal to validate Bearden scores after test distribution issue, principal says
Retrieved from: http://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/education/act-denies-appeal-to-validate-bearden-scores-after-test-distribution-issue-principal-says/51-492044555

Aubry, J (2017) ACT to accept tests given incorrectly to 21 school districts across Ohio
Retrieve from: http://nbc4i.com/2017/06/02/act-to-accept-tests-given-incorrectly-to-21-school-districts-across-ohio/

Okay…so I’m new to this discussion. We received the “letter” from the ACT two weeks ago and 5 months after my daughter took her ACT. Needless to say it has ROCKED OUR WORLD. I had NEVER heard of such a thing. I have spent the last two weeks in disbelief and sick. Not to mention the fact that my daughter is a nervous wreck and so done with trying after this incident. Going through all the posts I feel like by filing this appeal I am in for a losing battle. The wording on the letter was the same as others up the discussion board. I requested additional information two days after receiving the initial letter. I received the seating chart and STATISTICS and probability cheat yesterday. The seating chart was NOT accurate and the paperwork that they supplied with the chart that the test administrator was to fill out to ensure all items were checked and accounted for was blank. REALLY? I was somewhat in disbelief when the “Source Examinee” or I guess you could say the examinee that my daughter had like and unlike answers was sitting beside her on the seating chart, however, my daughter swears this wasn’t her seat assignment. She believes the examinees were put in alphabetical order and her last name is A…and she was in the first chair next to a window on the left side of the room. Seating chart had her in third row on the right side of the room. After reading down the threads I find this is somewhat common with other parents receiving the incorrect information. My daughter worked VERY HARD to earn these test scores. Taking as a Junior she did poor (14) with little to no test prep. She took it 3 months later and improved in scores somewhat (17)…after that point she buckled down and attended ACT reviews, scrimmages, etc. and in September obtained a 26. We were overjoyed and she was so excited that her hard work had paid off AND THEN THE LETTER. How can t his happen? I am set to turn in my appeal papers tomorrow but already feel as if I’m up against a losing battle. I know as many parents have said, why don’t she just take the test again? It’s the principle in the matter and how long can this go on? My daughter isn’t a great test taker and has full blown anxiety as it is…I’m not so sure her 4th time taking this test would work out either. We were turned down for FAFSA money and my daughter has been VERY involved in school and has taken several college classes while in high school. I see this as nothing but a bullying money ploy! I have been so upset that I have had a full blown anxiety attack myself. Please keep me posted on everyone’s progress.

I am so sorry to hear about this. Although I am not surprised. You have joined a family of support with all of us who know exactly what you are going through. With that said, If you stand to lose a significant scholarship then I would prep your daughter to take the SAT only once! Then fight the ACT for the principle we are all fighting for. I do not trust their re-test and personally would not recommend that route. You are welcome to contact me directly. My email is in the PM. I can then sent you my cell#. Can’t post it here.

Best of Luck!
Catherine

Thank you Catherine. We are still patiently waiting to hear from the appeal. I just can’t wrap it around my head how ACT can get away with the same “canned letter” and sending out bogus seating charts, etc. and put families/students through this. We have been sick since receiving the letter. It angers me that this is going on. Thanks for listening.

CALKYMOM
My heart goes out to you as this is outrageous. The worst thing is the amount of time that passes between taking the test and being accused of cheating.

Keep in touch with me. My figures are crossed that you have a positive outcome!

Hello,

My son is going through the score review process. We were notified end of October about a question with his June scores. At that time we were advised that the review process might take until after the New Year. He is a senior, almost all of his college applications submitted, and only took the test one other time. Given the timeframe and the importance of his test score for college admittance and scholarships, my husband and I urged him to take the test in December to get another set of scores. We just made the late registration date. He took the test again 2 weeks later. We were nervous because of the added pressure and the fact that he too is not a good test taker. He achieved the same score as in June. Well, now we are in March. My son has to make a college decision. He was admitted to schools and got scholarships in part because of his test scores. We expected that the situation would be resolved with his December scores supporting those for June. They are now questioning BOTH his June and December scores. He took the tests in different test centers. He didn’t know anybody. He sat in the first row. He prepared for a year for the June exam. Has NO history of cheating throughout all of his school years. He earned his grades and we are in the same situation that we were in October. It is a nightmare. We are preparing a new package to send. We feel that they are determined to cancel his scores. If ANYONE on this thread has had experience with this situation who can share some insight, contact of an attorney or any other help, please share. This entire process is unacceptable. As parents and students we are at the mercy of the standardized tests. They are making millions. They push you take take the tests over and over and over, and when you achieve a score, they want to cancel them. It’s incredible. Something must be done about this. What lesson does this teach our children? Work hard and do your best for what? To get accused of cheating. Something must be done. If anyone has experienced this situation and has had their scores validated, what type of support documentation did you provide? The ACT will not share some key information that we requested, which makes it impossible for us to argue properly. In addition, my understanding is that the arbitration process does not review the case; they determine whether the ACT reviewed the case fairly - so essentially the arbitrator is like the Supreme Court determining whether you had a fair trial. The ACT has students sign their disclaimer when they take the test, so all of this is in the fine print. A question to anyone who is a attorney, is the disclaimer even binding since the kids signing are typically 16 and 17. I’m sure that none of our children - or even parents - pay attention to this fine print. We put our children’s future in their hands and they can essentially do whatever they want. Something must be done.

Not so easy. The ACT wants you to take a private test so they can stack the test against you. There is no question that they will not provide a fair test. Also, for a student to test alone in a room with a proctor - particularly if he is a nervous test taker to start - he will likely not perform well. My son took a test at a national testing center 2 weeks after getting notified of a possible score invalidation. He asked for a score review and during the lengthy wait time he took the test again. Now they are questioning his original and new scores despite the fact that the test was taken at a national testing center. He got the same score twice. They are determined to invalidate the scores. Period.

One of the posts in this thread noted that the ACT should limit re-takes to one. This will never happen. This is a HUGE money maker. Here’s a link to a Washington Post story:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2015/09/30/how-much-do-big-education-nonprofits-pay-their-bosses-quite-a-bit-it-turns-out/?utm_term=.00e16a68ef8a

Check out the CEO salaries at ACT, College Board and ETS. Think about how much money is generated when test takers repeat tests - even 1 extra test. What about all of the testing materials and prep. This is a HUGE business. The ACT is trying to protect its business and does not care if they have to cause families to suffer through their score review process that is completely unfair. They will NEVER limit the number of tests. Perhaps they should reduce their executive salaries and put the money toward videotaping test rooms to prove that students are cheating or innocent, reduce the number of test takers in each room to secure the environment, add proctors to ensure fair test environments. Perhaps if they were more confident in their administration of tests they wouldn’t have to accuse innocent students of cheating.

They are corrupt. No other way to put it!

@kodiman24 what was his score increase from whatever month he took it PRIOR to June and then to the June testing? Just to understand the fact, he took it once and scored XX and then took it again in June 2017 and scored XX+.

Yes, I’m curious too.

Are we talking about C15 to C30, C30?
That might look weird for sure.

But if we’re talking about C20 to C30, C30,
then I would definitely say the system is unfair to the student. Students can make 10pt gains, especially when you’re starting around the 50th percentile.

I’m sorry I am not understanding what you mean by C20 C30 etc. This board is about the ACT EXAM and the false allegations of cheating
Can you pear clarify what you are referring to?

What was the 1st ACT Composite score vs what the student got on the 2nd and 3rd attempt.

C20 means ACT Composite score 20.

sort of anecdotal, but the re-testing thing can go both ways. we know a kid who did great on his first test; was forced to take it again for his school and purposely decided to get a low score. The difference was over 15+ points between the 2 scores. Yep, he was accused of cheating; had to retake again to prove the first score; not sure how many times he retook.