US College-Entrance Test Scores Annulled for Asian Students

Asian students have been informed that their scores on the ACT last month section writing (American College Testing) test access to university canceled. The move is the latest example of how standardized test makers struggle to contain a global epidemic of cheating.

The incident comes just months after the ACT Inc., the nonprofit based in Iowa that operates the test organization was forced to cancel its examination to all policyholders in South Korea and Hong Kong.

ACT spokesman Ed Colby, declined to say how many students were affected by the cancellations of tickets in October, which he said involved testing centers in Asia and Oceania. He described the incident as the result of a "compromise in the testing process" and said the affected students "represent only a small part of the consideration of the region.

Students assigned to the cancellation of the note of October, received a message from ACT said. "Unfortunately, the events, which endangered the testing process for the writing portion of the test As a result, you will not receive . a rating for writing exam answer / essay will be evaluated English, math, reading and science - ACT their multiple-choice tests.

The ACT message added that each student will issue a refund of US $ 16.

The ACT writing section is nominally voluntary, but many universities require students to take to assess writing skills and reasoning of a candidate.

The last security incident represents "a frustrating and difficult situation for our students," said Kristin J. Dreazen, president of the international subsidiary of the National Association for College Admission.

On October 21, Reuters obtained a copy of an act of writing test on "Fame" an Asian source indicated flee and had to be given the next day. Asia test administrators were instructed shortly before the procedure to replace another about writing one that was originally sent. Colby refused to comment on the evidence obtained Reuters.

Reuters reported in July that the ACT test security had recommended several times to strengthen security abroad before the break in June, but executives ACT had rejected the recommendations. The organization later severed the head of the unit. The CEO of ACT, Marten Roorda, declined to be interviewed.

ACT has recently begun sending some of their booklets and answer sheets in boxes to prevent leakage. But the use of the boxes is not universal however, according to the test administrators.

In July, Reuters also details many cheaters in the overall assessment certificate program owned ACT. The program offers college preparatory courses, has about 5,000 students and operates in about 200 centers, mainly in Asia.

Seven students attended three different centers in China GAC described how school officials and supervisors and sometimes complicit in cheating on the ACT were ignored. Eight teachers or administrators who have worked in seven different Chinese centers GAC also described the traps during the program.

ACT's chief rival, the New York College Board, which administers the SAT, has been struggling with its own security problems. The College Board recently reported an undisclosed number of testers in Egypt that their scores were canceled for testing in October.

University spokesman Zach Goldberg said cancellations were "based on evidence that an organization of test preparation was obtained illegally and share the content of the examination before administration." He refused to give details.

Reuters also reported in August that a significant violation exposed hundreds of unreleased tracks for future SATs. A spokeswoman for the College Board said the organization was investigating what he called "serious criminal case."

The SAT and ACT are used by thousands of universities in the United States to help choose from millions of candidates.