Is there a course of action to take? Possibility of a re-test?

Test Preparation ACT Preparation
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I believe I've mentioned in another thread (perhaps it was a PM) that I've been helping a HS senior prepare for the ACT for the past month. She started out at a 25-26 and has since risen to a consistent 31 (she's also gotten a 32 multiple times). In saying that, she had a problem today during her test. </p>

<p>She had a watch with her, as I'm sure many of you did. After all, the ACT even suggests to bring "a watch to pace yourself":
<a href="http://www.actstudent.org/faq/bring.html"&gt;http://www.actstudent.org/faq/bring.html&lt;/a> </p>

<p>So, in the MIDDLE of her English test, a proctor interrupts her and takes away the watch, simply because he/she now noticed the watch and was afraid that it <em>might</em> beep. </p>

<p>Obviously, it would've been a mistake to even take the watch BEFORE the exam. However, it is an even more egregious mistake to interrupt her DURING the exam to take the watch. Obviously, this can be frustrating and distracting to that singular student, but also for the others in the classroom trying to take the exam. Moreover, can you imagine taking 20+ practice tests, reviewing said practice tests, attending tutoring sessions, etc., etc., only to be interrupted? To have something integral taken away from you that prohibits you from doing your best? As we all know, the ACT material is not that difficult in and of itself; rather, the time constraints are what make it most difficult. She has practiced with a watch to help with her pacing and because it is permissible on test day, just as the link to the ACT site notes above. Additionally, we have established clear and defined goals about where she is supposed to be on the various subtests relative to certain time points. If your watch is taken away, it is hard to pace yourself as best as you could, especially when you've practiced a certain way on 20+ tests. Ultimately, that proved to be the case as she struggled to finish the other three sections, though that has not been a problem since the first couple of weeks of our time. </p>

<p>Again, it still would've been an error to take away the watch to begin with, but to have interrupted her (and to have potentially and simultaneously interrupted other students) is just incredibly ridiculous and incompetent on behalf of that particular proctor. Overall, a proctor is tantamount to a referee in sports. Imagine a team of referees in football who did not know the rules to the game. That is essentially what we have here. </p>

<p>I'm annoyed, the girl who took the test is obviously pissed, and the mom is furious. Understandably. </p>

<p>At this point, we do not know exactly how negatively the girl's score may have been affected. However, we do know that the difference between a 28 and a 30 or a 29 and 31 or even a 32 is HUGE, whether we're talking scholarships at state schools or admission to a top 25 institution. </p>

<p>Anyway, with all of that context provided, does anyone know or have experience with handling such situations? We will obviously do what we can by going through the school and the ACT immediately, as we cannot afford to take the wait-and-see approach given where we are relative to scholarship/admission deadlines. In saying that, I wanted to post this not so much to vent but more so to figure out if there's anything truly productive (and just) that can be done. </p>

<p>Thanks for any help anyone can provide. For any test-taker who took the ACT today, I hope you did well and hope you didn't have a similar misfortune. </p>

<p>Best,
Leftwich</p>

2

<p>EDIT: </p>

<p>Was also just informed that the proctors were disruptive the entire time by talking to one another, eating candy, entering and exiting the room, etc. If more kids, in addition to the girl I tutored, can attest to the lack of professionalism and high level of disruptiveness of the proctors, might there be an even stronger case for a re-test?</p>

<p>This is insane. I can’t believe that some educators would be so fucking inconsiderate and unprepared when so much hinges on this test. </p>

<p>The system is what it is. We can have debates all day about the SAT/ACT having too much emphasis placed on it. Regardless, it is still the game we’ve all been forced to play. However, to have to deal with this on top of it?</p>

<p>Good God. </p>

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<p>Found the complaint link here:
<a href=“http://www.actstudent.org/faq/contact-us.html”>http://www.actstudent.org/faq/contact-us.html&lt;/a&gt; </p>

<p>Scroll to bottom of page, if you’ve had a similar issue. </p>

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<p>Just want to express my sympathy, that is HUGELY disruptive to a student trying to focus and do his/her best. Also a nice heads up to warn my own kids about that type of situation.</p>

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<p>Consider having the young woman’s mother file the complaint. Form what I read, you did your job and helped her prepare. </p>

<p>Did you select the watch she used? Any watch that beep/may beep is not allowed. I also wonder if the proctor was trying to help. If the alarm sounds during testing, the student will be dismissed and the entire test will be voided. Perhaps the proctor was trying to help the student avoid that (more) devastating scenario. </p>

<p>Bear in mind that proctors are not necessarily educators. They are adults who receive training in how to administer the test. The “pacing watches” developed for the ACT are often banned, even though they do not make noise.</p>