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<p>The kids who took the test are kids in my eyes too.</p>
<p>Being currently in the midst of the standardized testing season myself, it infuriates me that there are students who are trying to get out of the test, let alone with high scores, by paying someone else to take it for them. I know most people say you can’t study for these tests, but I’m studying (this will be my 2nd time taking SAT and ACT, and I want my scores to come up), and to think that while I’m doing that, they’re paying people to take the test is just wrong. </p>
<p>Yes, I think those who took the test for these students are wrong in their actions, but from my point of view, the kids paying these students, and having almost succeeded in doing so, makes me more angry. </p>
<p>One of the things I really consider when I get my scores back are my percentiles. Honestly, they matter to me just as much as the actual score itself. Knowing that those percentiles could be affected by things like this… well it concerns me. </p>
<p>I don’t think that these students should go to jail, not even the test takers. But I think that everyone involved should have to report it to their schools, and that those who paid for these tests should have to come out in the open about it to ALL of the colleges they applied to. </p>
<p>If they want to be recognized for how they did on the test, than so be it.</p>
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<p>NJmom, I wondered that, too. Kids that age don’t come up with that kind of cash without some adult assistance.</p>
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<p>I agree, and I think that they are all responsible, both test-takers and the ones who paid them.</p>
<p>I find it most fascinating how some on CC don’t really seem to see what the ‘big deal is’ (or at least frustrated/angered by this fraud like everyone else).</p>
<p>I guess cheating is no big deal until it occurs at the Enron or Madoff level.</p>
<p>According to the article, they believe it involved more like forty kids, not twenty, but the statute of limitations has run out on half of them.</p>
<p>Okay, where on earth do forty kids come up with 3,500 dollars? </p>
<p>We live in an affluent area, and I’d be hard pressed to find any kids whose parents let them have that kind of cash all at the same time. So, maybe there are three kids I can think of. But, that’s a lot of kids with a lot of cash.</p>
<p>I don’t know any of the names and I am glad.</p>
<p>Some of these schools, like Tulane and Indiana, give large scholarships based on test scores. Maybe some parents think an investment of $2000 to get a possible return of a $10,000/year or more scholarship is a risk worth taking?</p>
<p>All of these kids should be expelled from their schools. Let them work at McDonald’s IF they can get bonded.</p>
<p>I think some paid as little as $500.</p>
<p>I am SO outraged.</p>
<p>I just read a Newsday article in which a Great Neck mom was quoted as saying, in essence, that the DA should lighten up on these kids because they “made a mistake!” A MISTAKE! Right. The kid didn’t mean to call up the other one and ask him to take the test for him and the test taker wasn’t really intending to take the test for someone else. He accidentally wrote in another kid’s identifying information and somehow a phony ID found its way into his pocket. A MISTAKE! It’s parents like her who foster this environment.</p>
<p>I’d take the test for somebody if I was offered 3k…</p>
<p>Nevermind edit…</p>
<p>The test-takers should get paid by the point.</p>
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Actually, I think she meant that it wasn’t as big a deal to the cheating student (at the time, that is) as it was to everyone else.
Not that I’m defending the kids, though, but if it was my choice, I probably wouldn’t give jail time to the kids who paid people to take the tests. Now, the people who took the test for these kids, that’s a different story. I hold them responsible much more than the kids who paid them.</p>
<p>[Map:</a> SAT, ACT cheating scandal on LI](<a href=“http://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/map-sat-act-cheating-scandal-on-li-1.3339459]Map:”>http://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/map-sat-act-cheating-scandal-on-li-1.3339459)</p>
<p>A map of the schools in question. Apparently, another 2 kids in Queens, adjoining western county to these schools, will be charged as well. These schools line the northern aspect of Long Island, the “Gold Coast” in more ways than one. If one drives from Flushing, Queens on Route 25A, all the way to Syosset 25 miles give or take from Queens , every other store front is a tutoring/prep center, I am not joking. </p>
<p>Newsday printed the scores obtained, nothing to celebrate at all. </p>
<p>My d current AP Physics teacher told her class that not one kid she taught last year, (she taught in one of the schools involved) go below a 4. Well now I truly question the validity of that fact.</p>
<p>One thing that should be done is there should no longer be consquences for the schools, proctors, or students who report irregularities. From what I’ve been told, schools which report more than a certain, low number of problems can lose their privileges as a testing site. Same for proctors–who, by the way, should not be allowed to be employees of the same high school since they may be more motivated to overlook things. Similarly, when my D witnessed cheating on an AP test that was also noticed by the proctor but not stopped, she called College Board about it. She was told her own exam score was likely to be cancelled if she filed a report and she would not be allowed to re-take it. Proctors may jeopardize the scores of everyone in the room if they report an issue. That is a strong deterrant.</p>
<p>My S’s junior year, a senior top student was caught cheating on the AP Physics exam. Not only did the high school overlook it, but they allowed him to be valedictorian. That demoralized my S for a long time.</p>
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<p>I have heard this too, and I agree. If by reporting cheating it leads to all scores in a room being cancelled, it can be a huge negative effect for those not involved. This happens with SAT scores, and can jeopardize admissions or scholarship deadlines for many. It is a bad policy.</p>
<p>I agree with the previous poster who pointed out that unless the names of the current high school students are somehow released, every single score from these high schools s suspect. What a shame for the honest students.</p>
<p>I do think some jail time is deserved for the ones taking the tests. They committed identity fraud and got money for doing it.
The kids should be heavily fined and their scores cancelled and all colleges notified that were sent the scores. </p>
<p>This is a big deal and should be stopped. The punishment has to be painful or the practice will continue.</p>
<p>Agree with Momof3. Until there is more of an impact to the students that paid the test takers than having their scores cancelled, this will continue. I do not think their should be jail time for the ones paying the test taker, but their colleges should be notified of the cheating.</p>
<p>I just watched it on the news last night. Those kids were paid 3500+ for taking tests. One kid went to U.Del, another Tulane. The test scores they got were 1930 SAT and 29 ACT. I am sorry, if my kid were to pay someone to take her test, she should at least be savvy enough to hire someone who could get better scores. I probably would yell at her for being so stupid in throwing good money away. Would have been cheaper to hire a tutor, AND better scores.</p>