Dear Associate,

In an article published today in the Los Angeles Times there is a valuable quote for all testing programs from ETS attorney Bruce M. Berman, “ETS is a testing service, not a law enforcement agency. Thus, it is not required to prove that test takers cheated as a prerequisite to canceling scores."

Often testing programs struggle with the question, “When can we cancel test scores?” ETS has dealt with this issue in the past. In the case Scott v. ETS (N.J. Sup. 1991) the court ruled, “We are satisfied that the relevant public and private interests are fairly accommodated by a procedure which permits ETS to cancel scores upon an adequate showing of substantial question as to their validity, without any necessity for a showing of actual cheating or other misconduct.”

Testing programs clearly have broad authority to determine the validity of test results. In the specific instance referenced by the Los Angeles Times article ETS determined that students from Trabuco Hills High in Southern California were improperly supervised during an AP test, “students were allowed to talk, consult study aids, send text messages to friends and leave the room in groups during the exam.” Ten students admitted to cheating on statistics and economics exams by using their cell phones to send text messages.

The article is referenced below. Please take the time to read the comments following the article.

Speaking of students and cheating; I am going to be presenting my webinar “50 Ways Students Cheat on Tests” on August 20. Please read below for more information.

Best regards,

Don Sorensen
Vice President, Marketing
Caveon Test Security
don.sorensen@caveon.com
801.592.3396

1 > Testing group reveals why it voided AP exams of about 400 students at O.C. high school - Los Angeles Times

As a south Orange County high school made plans Wednesday for a mass retesting, the nonprofit group that administers the Advanced Placement exams offered a disturbing picture of the proctoring environment in May that led it to void the tests of nearly 400 students.

2 > Study confirms widespread cheating on job exams - The Boston Globe

A secret international investigation into job certification test fraud conducted by a major US technology company has confirmed long-held suspicions that thousands of people worldwide are cheating on certification exams for coveted jobs.

3 > What should the punishment be for cheating by a “Test-Center”? | NetworkWorld.com Community

Now let us look at the test-center. Yes, must of these are CPLSs and Microsoft partners. But my question is, where are the braindump sites getting their test questions and how are they able to do this? I find it hard to believe that there are that many people with photographic or near photographic memory taking tests just to turn around and sell the test questions and answers not to mention how the diagrams and illustration are EXACTLY the ones seen on the tests. Now this is just my opinion, but I believe there must be some collusion between one or more unethical test-centers and the brain dump sites.

4 > Cheating on ACT, SAT college entrance exams has few consequences - Los Angeles Times

A group of students at a Los Angeles high school is suspected of cheating on the ACT college entrance exam by paying a former student, who used fraudulent identification, to take the tests. The testing agency recently began investigating the claims, which could result in cancellation of scores provided to colleges. But those colleges will not be told why the scores are invalid, nor will the students’ high school be clued in.

5 > Business Schools Mull Scandal Options - BusinessWeek

As the nation’s top business schools wait for word on whether any of their students used a test prep site to get a sneak peak at the main business school admissions exam, school officials aren’t shying away from using the “E” word—expulsion—if serious cheating is found.

6 > New Systems Keep a Close Eye on Online Students at Home - Chronicle.com

The Phoenix-based provider of the system, Kryterion Inc., employs proctors who remotely observe and listen to as many as 50 students at a time. If the keystroke pattern of a student who is taking an exam does not match the one he or she provided at registration, or if the image of a student taking an exam does not match a digital photograph that the student provided at enrollment, then the student cannot start the exam. A proctor can also stop a student who is acting suspiciously from completing an exam. Students must have a broadband connection to use the service.

7 > Business Schools Try Palm Scan to Finger Cheats - The Wall Street Journal

In a sign of increasing concern about cheating, the nation’s top business schools will soon require a high-tech identity check for standardized admissions tests. Aspiring corporate executives taking the Graduate Management Admission Test, or GMAT, will have to undergo a “palm vein” scan, which takes an infrared picture of the blood coursing through their hands. The image — which resembles a highway interchange in a major city — is unique to every individual. The scans are used widely in Japan among users of automated teller machines but only recently have appeared in the U.S.

8 > Cheating is Cheating and the punishment should be the same for those caught! | NetworkWorld.com Community

Microsoft recently announced a new measure to crack down on certification exam cheating and I applaud their efforts. I have stated before (and countless others have said the same thing) that to increase the value of a certification, you must curtail the ability for people to cheat.