My son has taken the act 3 times. The first time he did not prepare as he was told to take in order to establish his baseline. He got a 19. He started tutoring after his first test and took the test in April 2015 resulting in a 18 score. He continue tutoring and took the test in June 2015 receiving a 29. Yesterday, we received a letter from ACT basically accussing him of “cheating”. How can it be possible. He took the test with 25 strangers students under very tight security enviroment. They claim his answers were similar to other “examinees” closed to him with same test beside his unssually high score increase and “other” reasons. It took ACT 6 months to send this notice when he is applying to college. Needless to say, my son is devasted by the accusation and the options given by ACT. Does any one has any experience with challenging the ACT decision?. My son is not a good test taker. It took him a lot of training to learn how to take the test. Any kind advise is welcome. Thanks
Well a 10 point jump in score is a little suspicous
Suspicious?? Of what?? It is near impossible to cheat when you are taking a test with 25 strangers… However you missed my question, does anyone has experience in challenging their review?
Ps. In the end, most of this test is learning how to take the test including time management.
I don’t know you or your son, but in my experience it is quite common for children to be one thing in their parents’ eyes and quite another when away. It could be that you believe him because he has never lied to you (as far as you know).
There are ways to cheat that have nothing to do with someone else being around at all.
As mentioned above, 10 point jump is huge (especially having taken it twice with effectively the same lower score). That in itself is suspicious. Maybe your kid is the rare exception.
I would brace yourself for the possibility that he may have felt desperate and cheated. It happens.
Well, I truly believe that it’s possible to make a 10 point jump and would not automatically assume that your son has cheated.
If he just studied some basic rules, it’s already possible to make an easy 5 point jump in that spectrum. (It’s easier to go from an 18 to a 23, than from a 30 to a 35!)
Maybe let your son call ACT and explain his situation?
Do you have any proof of his studying? (Bills for the tutor, prep material…) Maybe that will help as well.
During all the ACTs I have taken, it was impossible to see the exact bubbles from someone else. Moreover, everyone received a different kind of form (73D, 72E…), so it would be a high risk to just copy from someone else.
If he did a prep class, perhaps they have his practice tests showing the improvement even prior to taking the actual test? If not, did he save his practice tests from home study? It’s a big jump, but as you say, he was starting out completely unprepared and probably did not take it seriously the first time.
I also think it’s unusual, but possible, to jump from 19 to 29, especially for a student who went into the first exam cold and then did test prep. The interesting factor is the 1 point drop on the 2nd test - but how close in time was it to the first test?
If you have practice tests showing improvement from a prep center, or online, perhaps that would help?
My son took ACT three times, but got the same exact composite score every single time. He had some fluctuating sub-scores which was a little frustrating.
I hope you guys can get this straightened out.
Oh, please. I taught test prep several years ago when I was between college and grad school. Ten point jumps between someone who goes into the test not sure what to expect and then learning how to take it - not unusual. There’s also the matter of simply picking up more relevant content in classes between the two test sittings. Given how the tests are administered, I don’t see how someone can possibly cheat on them, even if they tried.
What sort of school does your S attend now, and how exposed are they to standardized tests generally? My S has never been in a school subject to NCLB or Common Core, and had little experience at all with standardized tests until I started to prep him in advance of the college entry tests he’d be taking. He now does quite well on all standardized tests, even in areas where the content isn’t all that familiar, because he knows how to play the game. That’s all that test prep is.The test companies (and colleges that rely heavily on the tests) probably don’t like to admit that, though.
Good luck. Tell your S that there are people out here rooting for him.
oddly I just ran across this exact scenario yesterday will I was researching calculating the new PSAT scores. the website (I think is was prep scholar) specifically said to NEVER take an SAT/ACT cold, not that you have to pay for tutoring but at least review on your own, because the testing companies look for and flag scores that widely vary, it doesn’t happen too frequently, but it does happen. They also said challenging the decision is not usually successful.
What are the options that ACT gave your son? I would assume retaking it?
Thanks to all for your advise and kind support. Fortunately, he has saved all his practice test and work sheets. His 1st test was in December 2014 and as a 17th year old did not pay ,much attention as many of his peers in his school took the test with scores above 25. He began his tutoring in March 2015 and took the test in April of 2015 resulting in a lower score. He continue tutoring until his test in Jun 2015 where get got a 29 score. Needless to say, we recognize the pressure for some kids however I was there at the school for his testing and there was not way he could have cheated with other students. The test was done in his own high school where at least one of the examiners knew him. Unless there is other ways to cheat I am not sure how it could happened. It is an aweful label to put into someone. While I understand the statistics used it is so harsh to come to judgement into such a serious matter for a Senior in highschool.
Still my question is, does anyone have any experience about disputing the ACT review process. It is Option #3 given to him other than Option #1 of canceling the score or Option #2 of re-taking the test. All options are challenging due to the time constrains and the college application process.
He does attend a Parrochial Highschool with very high scores… Guess we are going to start the testing game again!!!
Not to sound negative, but I have to think that the ACT looked at your son’s test booklet and prob didn’t see enough work, especially in Math, to indicate that your son came up with his own answers.
But if your son did calculate and solve, and wrote a bunch of stuff in the booklet, then tell ACT to review the test booklet. If he did write solutions, that alone should be enough to prove he didn’t cheat and ACT should let the score stand.
there are lots of threads on cc about this topic and if you google “cheating on standardized tests”, you’ll find a lot of inventive cheating methods. there’s a cc article as well. It’s pretty damning if your son got the same answers right and wrong as those around him. Still, in your shoes, if my son said he didn’t cheat, I’d believe him and support him in every way and I suggest you do the same.
I’d think a written statement from his tutor stating the progress he’s made, a transcript with his gpa (if it supports his score),a statement from the examiner that knew him and his practice tests would be sufficiently convincing. I’d also get on the phone w the act asap to find out next steps. Perhaps a re-test can be scheduled in parallel to submitting a statement.
sorry, my edit time ran out. I’d add that this is a key juncture in your son’s life and he’s likely to remember the way you handle this challenge for the rest of his life. because of this, if for no other reason, I suggest supporting your son in every way.
No proof, but does suspicion equal cheating? I think you should SUE the ACT BOARD! It is totally unfair!
@julianv any updates on the story?