Standardized Test Score Cancellation

Standardized testing can have high stakes for college and grad school admissions, as well as for admittance to certain professions. Companies like the College Board and ACT, which administer them, take test security very seriously.

Parents and students may be surprised when they receive notice that their test scores have been cancelled, even in the absence of direct evidence of cheating.

Recently, the Law School Admission Council decided to stop remote testing in China for the Law School Admissions Test after receiving reports of widespread cheating. As technology advances, so do the ways cheating may occur, such as through the use of smart eyeglasses.

Therefore, standardized testing companies use various methods to identify aberrations that may affect the validity of a given test.

Voluntary Cancellation

Testing companies may let students voluntarily cancel their test scores for a given test date. They may also allow students not report scores to colleges. Usually, this has to be done before the student knows the scores.

This may be a good option for students who felt ill or were distracted during the test and do not feel they did their best.

Involuntary Cancellation

Involuntary cancellation or invalidation occurs when a student is caught using prohibited materials during a test, breaks test center rules, or misrepresents their identity. It can also happen after the test, the security department of the testing company discovers an irregularity and opens a score review.

Reviews of Alleged Invalid Scores

When a testing company gets information that a test-taker’s scores are not valid, they may conduct a review.

These reviews typically include looking at whether the individual took a previous test where the score was much lower, and scoring pattern irregularities such as how many erasures were made, whether there were other test-takers in the same test-taking center whose test answer sheet was nearly identical to the answer sheet of the student whose score is being investigated, and the statistical likelihood that these measures happened by chance.  

There are different possible outcomes from these kinds of reviews. In some cases, students may submit additional evidence to show what happened and to support their position that the scores are valid. At ACT, for example, the options are voluntary score cancellation by the student, retesting, involuntary score cancellation by ACT, or score reinstatement due to insufficient evidence.

Students whose scores are involuntarily cancelled may appeal the decision. Some test companies include mandatory arbitration clauses in their exam registration contracts, which means the test-taker agrees to arbitration as the final arbiter of the matter.  

What Does This Mean?

If you or your child receives notice of a score review, you must carefully weigh your options. If you want help disputing a score cancellation, you should contact a lawyer who understands the score review process.

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