My S qualifies for extra time on the ACT. He took the test in February and is taking it again this weekend (June 11 & 12 - they take it over 2 days) at his school, not a regular testing site. He came home yesterday after the test and was sure that it was the same test he took in February. He wasn’t exactly thrilled with this prospect because the math was very hard for him and he doesn’t expect to do any better on it. However, he thinks he could possibly improve on the other sections, including the writing. The test is proctored by a guidance counselor. I’ve read that the ACT organization re-issues ACT exams, but I doubt it would do so in the same calendar year. His friends that took the exam at the regular testing center had a different exam (from him and from the February and April exam). What is he supposed to do under the rules? I think he should tell the guidance counselor, but he doesn’t want to because 1) he thinks this may raise his score, 2) it isn’t his fault, 3) he is a rising senior and will only have one more opportunity to test before early action college apps are due, and 4) HE THINKS IT WILL RAISE HIS SCORE. I’m not crazy about this particular guidance counselor. She has a reputation for being lazy and spiteful, and our family has had problems with her in the past. I have complained about her to the principal before, as have other parents that I know. It would not surprise me if she has caused a mistake in giving this test.
I can’t find any rules regarding this situation. I would really appreciate some guidance from others on what to do in this situation. Thank you.
I think it is outrageous that the companies profiting from the ACTs and SATs can 't spend what is necessary to develop new tests because they want the profit margin as great as possible. Corporate greed that is harming an entire generation of young people. It is disgusting!
I don’t think you need to talk to the counselor. She is only protecting the test. If you want to talk to anybody, I would think it needs to be with ACT. Do they have alternate test date for kids with accommodations? Can they administer another test this week due to the situation and accommodation involved?
I applaud you for wanting to do the right thing. Not many people or parents would have raised the question… Ask your son…"what would he want somebody else, potentially his competitors, to do in his situation? " and I think he will come to your way of thinking —success without integrity is a hollow victory. Maybe he can write a college essay about it!
I’ve read on a different forum here that other kids experienced the same thing. Apparently they kept it to themselves. I’m glad to hear that the GC had no role in choosing the test. I was harsh regarding her, but I feel it is deserved. The ACT website has a link to report cheating so I left a question there on what to do. I will also email the school principal and let him know. There is a period of time that the ACT with accom. must be taken and I don’t think my son will be able to take it again within that time. He left today for camp directly after taking the test (I haven’t talked to him to see if it was the same today). My S has taken lots of old ACT tests for practice and he could be mistaking one of them for the February test, but he was pretty sure it was the same test. I was hoping there are clear rules regarding this situation and someone here knows what they are. He contends that the situation was not his fault and he shouldn’t be punished by having to take it again - and these tests are punishment for him - it is agonizing for him to sit there for 3 and 4 hours (2 days) with nonstop testing, and there is no guarantee that he did any better on it the second time. He has epilepsy and stress can trigger a seizure, so that is also a factor in retaking the test. However, it does seem wrong if he was given the identical test, and it should be reported.
I agree that ACT and SAT should not be reusing old tests. It puts an ethical burden on the student who finds himself in this position.
There is a good chance your son probably thought he took the same test from Feb in June, but they were in fact different.
These tests all look alike. The only real way to know if they were the same test is to look at the form code labeled on the front of the test. But I doubt he noticed the form codes on either test, so it’s hard to know for sure if he got the same test twice.
I took the ACT yesterday and I can confirm that it was the same test as the one in February. I didn’t personally take it in February but I went back to the old ACT threads and they were discussing passages and types of problems and they matched up perfectly. Also the test form matched up perfectly.
Judging from kassh4’s comment, this issue is not one in which your guidance counselor was at fault, and it’s not something you should worry about. Congratulations on your good fortune, and may your son’s score improve!
I talked to my S and it definitely was the same test as February. His score wasn’t that great in February and he doesn’t think a second try will be any better. The feedback we have so far is that ACT sent it and the school administered it. ACT is at fault and it happened elsewhere too.
I talked to an ACT rep this morning and she wanted me to complete an online form that asked for my son’s name, address, phone number, where he attends school, his ACT id number, where he took the ACT test, who administered it, that person’s information… it made me uncomfortable. The rep told me I needed to report it TODAY. I just want an answer to a hypothetical question, i.e. what happens if the same test is given. No one will say. I feel like I will get him in trouble for speaking up. I told his principal about it, but he wasn’t too concerned and is checking with the guidance counselors about it. I’m ready to shrug it off and try to convince my S that the tests were probably just very similar and he is mistaken about it being the same.
Actually I know a friend who also took the same test in February 2015 and I also read a couple cases on Reddit/r/ACT so he’s not the only one who took it again
Yeah I think everyone on reddit is on the same page and agrees that it was the same test. Im just nervous because apparently the February test had a very harsh curve.
I’m talking about the February 2016 test being the same as the June 2016 test. My son gets extra time so he takes it at his school rather than the regular test centers. Even the writing portion was the same.