 |
Cheating in the News is a bi-weekly e-mail update delivering the latest news related to cheating, exam fraud and test item piracy. To subscribe enter your e-mail address below.
 |
 |
May 20, 2005 |
| Dear Associate, |
Here at Caveon we spend a considerable amount of time scouring the Web for our clients' test content. If you've never done a search for your own test content I encourage you to spend a little time and do some searching -- you may be surprised.
|
| Here are a couple of tips that may improve your search: 1) When searching make sure to use multiple search engines such as: Google, Yahoo and MSN. Each search engine has their own database and unique algorithms for ranking sites. You'll discover different sites by using varied search engines. 2) Try various keyword phrases like: test prep, test cheats, actual test questions and braindump. Remember that if a website is in the business of selling illegal test prep materials they want to be found, so ranking in the search engines is to their advantage. |
| If after your search you're interested in a continuous, systematic approach to finding these sites you'll probably want to check out our Caveon Web Patrol service. |
Regards,
Don Sorensen
Caveon Test Security |
1 > Security of school tests studied
The State - Columbia,SC,USA
...A recent independent security audit by Utah-based Caveon Test Security found that, while the Education Department and its contractors are doing a good job of maintaining security of testing methods and materials used in statewide assessments, there is still room for improvement....
|
2 > Corruption in Serbian Universities
OneWorld.net - London,England,UK
...Almost a third of the polled students in Serbia said that they would bribe somebody if that was the only way for them to pass an exam, shows the latest survey on corruption in higher education, conducted by the Students Union of Serbia SUS.... |
3 > Cheating Charges At Top NYC High School
7Online.com - New York,NY,USA
...Troy Peterson, Student: "I heard that it was a guy who wasn't supposed to be in the test at all, it was someone who walked in under an assumed name and just took a test. I guess he's trying to sell the answers - anything to make a quick buck."... |
4 > Do teachers coach during WASL testing?
Seattle Post Intelligencer - Seattle,WA,USA
...the mother of a fifth-grader in Federal Way says the real problem at her school is with the teachers. Lisa Poitras alleges that for two years in a row, her daughter's teachers at Lake Dolloff Elementary have repeatedly reviewed students' completed WASL test booklets, checked answers, given help and urged students to correct errors.... |
5 > We have no idea how many students cheat at GCSE and A-level
Telegraph.co.uk - London,England,UK
...The head of Britain's examinations watchdog has admitted that it is impossible to know how many students cheat in GCSE and A-level examinations.... |
6 > Cheating: where to draw the line
Telegraph.co.uk - London,England,UK
...Throughout the long and chequered history of the British school examination system, one ancient principle has remained intact: to cheat is more shameful than to fail, and any student caught in the act should expect the severest of punishments.... |
7 > Everybody’s doing it
Binghamton University Pipe Dream - Binghamton,NY,USA
...“It was just a business proposition. I paid him $35, and $35 gets you a sweet five-page paper,” he said. “I’m not really worried at all, because teachers don’t check — ever.”... |
8 > Cheating on the rise -- and many think it's OK
MLive.com - MI,USA
..."Mike" has made $40 so far this year by writing about seven essays for his fellow high school students. He even plagiarizes other works in writing the essays. Mike knows it's cheating, but he doesn't care because he's confident he won't get caught....
|
| Testing Industry News |
Catalyst Test Improvement Services offers testing programs item editing, item pool expansion and test refurbishing services. For more information visit: http://www.catalyst-test.com |
| Test Security Tip |
Protecting Our Tests
By Cyndy Fitzgerald, Senior Test Security Director
Just as a systems engineer must be vigilant in identifying and minimizing possible points of failure, in the testing industry, program managers need to manage risks of test disclosure and cheating. While the following list of activities is not comprehensive, it provides a general idea of where risk management principles (aka: test security) can be applied to testing programs:
- Item development: During this phase of test development up through beta testing there are many people involved with the creation of test content—contract item writers, subject matter experts, translators, beta test participants. Appropriate security measures should be applied to prevent loss or questions regarding ownership of the developed content.
- Test delivery: Test delivery involves two types of risk: the first at the point of test disclosure to examinees, and the second when the examinee formulates and provides a response. Appropriate security measures should be applied to ensure that both the exposure and response are trustworthy.
- Data Management: Even after the test items are safely locked away, the credential can still be compromised by data mismanagement. Routine back-ups and reconciliations should be performed to ensure that test response data is not corrupted.
To read the rest of this article click here. |
| > Cheating in the News Archives > Caveon Services > Cheating Daily > Caveon in the News |
| |
|
Send this page to a friend.
|
|
