Cheating this year on tests has become a phenomenon both on the national level and locally at Cal High.
In December, a scandal was uncovered in which students in a wealthy Long Island, NY, suburb arranged for others to take the SAT in their place. These “professional test-takers,” were paid between $500 and $3,600, and used fake IDs to get into testing centers, according to Time magazine.
So far, five “professional test-takers” have been arrested for felony, and 20 students who paid those test-takers were arrested for misdemeanors, the New York Times reported.
Similar to that cheating ring, two have been recently uncovered at Cal involving AP classes.
In December, AP Biology teacher Andrew White was surprised at the unexpected grade inflation in his class, and suspected something was up. He speculated someone had stolen the test-generator, which is a single CD containing all possible test questions.
In March, AP U.S. History teacher Scott Hodges was tipped off by anonymous sources about cheating on his tests. He learned that some students had answers to stolen test questions.
When people cheat, they should remember it has severe consequences. Both Hodges and White have new, handwritten tests that are much harder.
This hurts all honest students who are now struggling on harder tests that they did not deserve. Hodges is also giving a second-semester final for the first time this year.
To combat cheating on the SATs, the College Board has announced that students next year must upload their photos during SAT registration. This photo will be printed on their test ticket, according to the San Ramon Valley Times.
Unlike previous years, SAT scores are now being sent to students’ counselors, so they can help identify cheateres. These procedures add more inconveniences for students taking this already-stressful test.
With AP exams and SAT subject tests on the horizon next month, The Californian strongly urges students to not cut corners when taking these tests.
First of all, Cal’s reputation hangs on these tests. If even a single instance of cheating is discovered on the AP Exams, Cal could be blacklisted by the College Board. Cal could receive further security checks and be viewed with a distrustful eye on future tests.
It has happened at other schools before when just a few people cheating on an AP exam led the College Board cancelling everyone’s score. The entire school then had to take a harder makeup test.
Before students cheat – and these students know who they are – they need to understand their actions not just affect them but also those around them.