Exclusive: ACT cancels test scores in Asia after leak of essay question
LONDON (Reuters) – Students in Asia have now been notified that their scores in the writing section of last month’s ACT college-entrance exam are now being canceled, into the example that is latest of how standardized test makers are struggling to contain a write my paper for me worldwide epidemic of cheating.
The incident comes just months after ACT Inc, the Iowa-based nonprofit that operates the test, was forced to cancel its exam for all takers in South Korea and Hong Kong. That incident, in June, marked the 1st time the high-stakes exam was canceled for an country that is entire.
ACT spokesman Ed Colby declined to state exactly how many students were impacted by the October score cancellations, that he said involved test centers in Asia and Oceania. He described the incident because of “a compromise when you look at the testing process” and said the affected students “amounted to only a small percentage of examinees in your community.”
Affected students for the October score cancellation received an email from ACT that stated: “Unfortunately, events occurred which compromised the testing process for the portion that is writing of test event. As a result, you simply will not receive a score for the writing test response/essay. Your multiple choice ACT tests—English, mathematics, reading, and science tests—WILL be scored.”
The message added that ACT will issue each student a $16 refund.
The ACT writing section is nominally voluntary, but many colleges require students to go on it to gauge an applicant’s writing and reasoning abilities.
The security incident that is latest is “a frustrating and complicated situation for the students,” said Kristin J. Dreazen, president associated with international affiliate for the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
The afternoon before the ACT was administered on Oct. 22, Reuters obtained a copy of an ACT writing test on the subject “Fame” that an Asian source said had leaked and was to be provided with the next day. Test administrators in Asia were instructed shortly before the test to substitute a different essay topic than the one which originally had shipped. Colby declined to touch upon the test Reuters obtained.
Reuters reported in July that ACT’s test security unit repeatedly had recommended tightening security overseas before the June breach, but that ACT executives had rejected the recommendations. The company Here, http://alldrugs24h.com/, http://allpills24h.com/, http://buycialisonline24h.com/, http://buypills24h.com/, http://buypillsonline24h.com/, http://buysildenafilonline24h.com/, http://buytadalafilonline24h.com/, http://buyviagraonline24h.com/, http://cheapviagraonline.com/, http://help-essay.info/, http://orderviagracheap.com/, http://tadalafilsildenafil.com/, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here. later laid off the head of the unit. ACT’s chief executive, Marten Roorda, has declined to be interviewed.
ACT recently began shipping a few of its test booklets and answer sheets in Here, http://alldrugs24h.com/, http://allpills24h.com/, http://buycialisonline24h.com/, http://buypills24h.com/, http://buypillsonline24h.com/, http://buysildenafilonline24h.com/, http://buytadalafilonline24h.com/, http://buyviagraonline24h.com/, http://cheapviagraonline.com/, http://help-essay.info/, http://orderviagracheap.com/, http://tadalafilsildenafil.com/, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here. lock boxes to guard against leaks. But the use of lock boxes still is not universal, according to test administrators.
In July, Reuters also detailed widespread cheating within the ACT-owned Global Assessment Certificate program. The program, that provides college preparatory courses, has about 5,000 students and operates in about 200 centers, mostly in Asia. reut.rs/2akY3uf
Seven students who attended three different GAC centers in China described how school officials and proctors ignored and were sometimes complicit in cheating in the ACT. Eight teachers or administrators that have worked at seven different Chinese GAC centers also described cheating in program courses.
ACT’s chief rival, the New York-based College Board, which administers the SAT, happens to be struggling along with its own security problems. The faculty Board recently notified an undisclosed number of test-takers in Egypt that their scores were being canceled when it comes to October test.
College Board spokesman Zach Goldberg said the cancellations were “based on evidence that a test preparation organization illegally obtained and shared the test content before the administration.” He declined to elaborate.
Reuters also reported in August that a breach that is major hundreds of unpublished questions for upcoming SAT exams. A College Board spokeswoman said the business was investigating what she termed “a serious criminal matter.”