<p>^That’s not really necessary, is it? I don’t think that people would post these types of topics if they didn’t have a legitimate case to make. It would be a waste of time, and everyone involved is smart enough to know that</p>
<p>If she didn’t cheat, option #1 or #3 could be the easiest. If her tutor gave her practice tests,
Then she could show those, assuming they were in the score range. Or otherwise if she maintains her innocence she should just re-take the ACT.
And how could the ACT just assume that she cheated? They have no actual basis for that accusation other than the fact that they were sitting close by. If no one saw her, there’s not enough concrete evidence to convict her.</p>
<h1>1 would be the best , IMO. Don’t make this harder than it has to be. Prep intensively and score EVEN better :)</h1>
<p>It’s interesting to read everyone’s perspective and I appreciate people providing suggestions. I’m a little surprised when I read comments like DudeCollege though. To assume she cheated because she chose Option #3 is a bit extreme. Obviously, the ACT organization believes students have the right to defend themselves, otherwise they wouldn’t include #3 as an option. If the review board does not believe her statement, she still has the option to retest or fight it with an arbitration board. Perhaps the easiest thing would be just to retake the test, however, I don’t think that is necessarily the right decision. If you were unjustly accused of plagiarizing a paper, would you automatically agree to write a new paper? Or would you first attempt to prove you did not plagiarize by providing your professor with evidence that shows you wrote it? That is the example my daughter gave to me and I agree with her decision.</p>
<p>This info is a bit dated, but still relevant. In the early 1990s, my wife tutored a friend’s son in math, and another friend tutored the son in English. Both tutors were teachers. They both worked on test taking skills. The kid had absolutely no clue on how to attack the ACT at the beginning, but learned quickly.</p>
<p>The kid had previously had very mediocre scores on 2 ACT tests - mid to high teens.</p>
<p>After tutoring his score shot up to the mid 20s.</p>
<p>He got a similar letter, which pointed out similarities in answers to those around him, and the vastly superior score he had just received.</p>
<p>He was given the same options.</p>
<p>He chose Option No. 3 I had just become an attorney, and helped him and the tutors put together letters that explained his prior deficiencies, the tutoring, and all the progress he had made.</p>
<p>A few weeks later the ACT sent him a letter accepting the scores.</p>
<p>You have absolutely nothing to lose by going this route.</p>
<p>I would also emphasize the fact that she did not know anyone, the impossibility of cheating, the location of the monitor and things of that nature.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks Keystone for the encouraging words. I am hoping for a similar outcome. She was accepted to her #1 school, in large part because of the ACT score, (since her GPA is below average) and is afraid that the offer may be rescinded if she scores lower on another ACT test–even it is just 3 points lower.</p>
<p>There is so much pressure on kids these days - I don’t remember the college process being nearly as competitive or angst-ridden. My daughter has so much on her plate already, and basically falls to pieces when stressed. Having to take the ACT again, privately and under the “suspicion” of cheating, and worrying that if she doesn’t do as well, will lose her opportunity to go to her dream school, and “her life will be a failure”, are just some of the reasons why she is choosing Option #3. The main reason tho, as I stated, is because she didn’t cheat and feels she has the right to defend the accusation.</p>
<p>Please let us know how it comes out!</p>
<p>And, by the way, it is very possible that the reason ACT believed cheating occurred was not because your daughter copied someone else, but because someone else copied your daughter, unbeknownst to her.</p>
<p>Or perhaps both your daughter and another test-taker in the same room happened to do very well, so they would naturally have similar answers because they had the correct ones.</p>
<p>I think that if the students in my daughter’s class of about 100 were lined up in alphabetical order, two of the top four students would be next to each other. Getting similar answers would not be evidence of cheating, but that they were bright kids who prepared well.</p>
<p>Good luck to you!</p>
<p>^</p>
<p>Good point about it might be someone else that was cheating using her answers. </p>
<p>I assume under such circumstances everyone gets a letter when their answer sheets appear too similar.</p>
<p>Also, the key point is to win this argument with the submission of the proof justifying her position.</p>
<p>Arbitration is almost a sure loser for your daughter. This is from the ACT web site:</p>
<p>In all instances, the final and exclusive remedy available to examinees who want to appeal or otherwise challenge a decision by ACT to cancel their test scores shall be binding arbitration through written submissions to the Dallas, Texas, office of the American Arbitration Association. The issue for arbitration shall be whether ACT acted reasonably and in good faith in deciding to cancel the scores.</p>
<p>[ACT</a> Score Information: Cancellation of Scores by ACT](<a href=“ACT Test Scores | ACT Scoring | ACT”>ACT Test Scores | ACT Scoring | ACT)</p>
<p>The last sentence, which defines the standard on appeal is crucial. To prevail your daughter would have to show that the ACT acted unreasonably and in bad faith in deciding to cancel the scores. Your daughter would not win on appeal merely by showing that ACT probably made a mistake.</p>
<p>If you havent already decided, I would advise you to go with option 1. I mean think about it. If her score is in 35/36 range, it might be tough. But if it is high 20’s then go for option 1. She has to get around 4 more question wrong in each section to get 3 points below which is highly implausible.</p>
<p>Also ask the ACT what they are going to do, if she scores higher than what she did</p>
<p>good luck to resolving this! i really hope this works out for your daughter. yes there is always that fear that this might happen and i can only imagine how horrible it is. option 3 would be best because its hard to score within 3 points especially since each time the test has a different section that is harder and that may just be the section that your daughter doesnt do well in. can the ACT prep place verify her attendance and studying? good luck!</p>
<p>Game theory suggests that standing your ground is always your best bet. If the other person who had similar answers opts to retake the test, ACT may well consider that de facto evidence that the other person cheated and rule in your favor. You can, of course, still retake the test if your petition fails.</p>
<p>I would appeal first since it might work and save you the hassle. If it doesn’t work, then just re-take it. 3 points on the ACT is approximately 200 points on the SAT, which is a BIG difference.</p>
<p>ACT also accused my son of cheating…so we are going through the exact same thing right now-however my son is already in college-second semester!
We were both so shocked and upset…now he has to choose the option 1, 2, 3, because he submitted his letter arguing his point with his high school transcripts…and like your daughter his transcripts did not back up his argument, but he had taken the test twice and the increase from the 1st test is what they are questioning…I had a flat tire on the way to the testing site the 1st time, he had to take a bus and walk at least a quarter of a mile he arrived 45 mins. late in order to get to the testing site/1st time.
His 1st test results were not the best so we decided that he should take the ACT again… This is when the ACT said the he cheated…like your daughter he had taken a class twice a week so he could improve his score, plus studying on his own. The ACT said that he had exact answers as an examinee sitting near by even though the examinee scored higher then my son. But any common answers would have required him to have literally stood over that persons shoulder in order to get as many questions as they said that he copied-BTW the prompter did not report any irregularities as far as anything like cheating, sneezing, crying, singing…so now he has to respond back by March 4th, 2011 to schedule a test.
I am wondering if this is a target towards minority students
?
No Offense just wondering? We are so very POd!!!</p>
<p>Here’s my opinion, take it for what it’s worth. If she can’t score within 3 points, she probably cheated. But I doubt you’ll accept that. You don’t just “forget” your knowledge that leads to success on the ACT.</p>
<p>
This is just ridiculous. Minorities need to stop playing the racist card and claiming “the white man is out to get them.”</p>
<p>OP wrote that if his daughter scores within 3 points of her original score, she can keep her original score. I don’t see how anybody could magically lose 3 ACT points (i.e. roughly 200 points on the SAT) on a retake. It’s not like the retake score is going to replace the original score, so I don’t see how option 1 has any risk (unless, of course, OP’s daughter did cheat).</p>
<p>But still, option 1 is probably best as a backup to option 3.</p>
<p>I agree with those who said she should just retake the test. If she did not cheat, she should be fine. She might even score higher since it will be the second time taking the test. I would not waste my time with option 3. I have a feeling no matter what you present they will reject it.</p>
<p>They are probably just being racist. Sue their pants off!</p>
<p>
Unfortunately, some people think like this.</p>
<p>It’s a possiblity too that another girl cheated off your daughter without her knowing… how does ACT know who cheated off who? They probably don’t but both people probably got this letter, and they want to know who was innocent and who was guilty, if anyone was.</p>