Kicked out of the ACT

Applying to College
1

<p>I feel like I have the worst luck ever. I just got kicked out of the ACT because the watch i brought went off for like 3 seconds. I immediately shut it off after, it wasn't such a big deal. When that happened, the instructor told me I had to leave, we argued for like 10 seconds, and he let me continue to write the test (was in the English part). After the section was done, he told me again I had to leave and that it was "a disturbance to the other people writing the test," yet ironically, he was making noise that I personally found disturbing, more so then an alarm going for 3 seconds. What I find funny is that someone else's alarm went off too, briefly though, and nothing happened to that guy. I told the instructor that and he said he didn't know who it was as his excuse. I knew who it was, but I wasn't going to be mean and center the guy out like that. The only reason my watch went off because it wasn't mine, and I didn't even know it had an alarm in it. </p>

<p>I've honestly read every rule in the practice booklet and online prep and I've never seen this rule, that if your watch alarm goes off, you get kicked out for it. Is it really that big of a damn deal, such that so the consequence for it is the same as another person who cheats? Is it fair that I get kicked out yet another guy doesn't even though his watch alarm went off? If this issue is such a big deal, why don't they bring a digital clock to every class writing the test so things like this wouldnt happen. Sigh, I'm so angry. I'm only going to have one chance now to do well on my ACT scores and its going to be really close to the application deadline for my college. Has something similar like this ever happened to anyone? Is there anything I can do?</p>

2

<p>That really sucks. In my test room, somebody’s phone rang…it was on the highest volume and was ringing for literally like 20 seconds before the person could find it and turn it off. And the only thing the proctor told the person was to turn the phone off.</p>

3

<p>I understand why you’re upset. However, every proctor I’ve ever had for the SAT/ACT spells out very clearly that if an electric device (even if it’ just a watch) goes off, your test will be invalidated. You’re even at risk of invalidating the tests of those around you, which is really inconsiderate. It’s in all of the test instruction booklets they read off of. Why did you need a watch?</p>

<p>Getting mad at him isn’t going to fix anything. You had to leave without finishing the test, so there will not be a score to salvage. There isn’t much you can do other than move on and take it again. This is why it’s so critical to start working on these things early. I took my first SAT a few months back and accidentally skipped a ton of questions, and scored well below my range because of it. I luckily was able to take it again, and raised my score by 200 points. </p>

<p>I believe the next testing date is in November (probably standby) or December. I hope it works out for you.</p>

4

<p>That sucks, man :frowning: There’s nothing you can do about it now, so enjoy your weekend. Study extra for the next ACT and ace it.</p>

5

<p>Of course you need a watch. So many of the proctors cheat you on time. In my SAT, the proctor routinely cheated us out of 3 minutes off each section. It didn’t hurt me too much, but its unfair which was why I brought a watch. Sometimes, with watches u don’t use often u might have an alarm u set ages ago that you forgot about. Then it goes off. Add that to an uptight old snotty proctor and you lose your money, get kicked out and maybe not even have your scores out in time for ED.</p>