ETS Test Security and Administration 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of ETS's test security program?
- To increase test fees for repeat examinees
- To maintain the fairness and validity of scores by preventing cheating and fraud (Correct answer)
- To limit the number of times candidates can retake exams
- To collect biometric data for government databases
Correct answer: To maintain the fairness and validity of scores by preventing cheating and fraud
ETS's test security program exists to protect the integrity of scores by ensuring that results accurately reflect each examinee's knowledge and abilities without fraud or cheating.
Question 2: Which item is typically prohibited inside an ETS testing center during an exam?
- A valid government-issued photo ID
- Approved scratch paper provided by the center
- A personal mobile phone or smartwatch (Correct answer)
- Noise-canceling earplugs provided by ETS
Correct answer: A personal mobile phone or smartwatch
Mobile phones and smartwatches are prohibited because they can be used to access unauthorized content, communicate with others, or photograph test questions.
Question 3: What form of identification does ETS most commonly require at a physical test center?
- A student ID card from an accredited university
- A valid government-issued photo ID such as a passport or driver's license (Correct answer)
- A Social Security card
- An ETS-issued test registration confirmation email
Correct answer: A valid government-issued photo ID such as a passport or driver's license
ETS requires a valid, current government-issued photo ID to verify the identity of the registered test taker and prevent impersonation.
Question 4: Which of the following actions constitutes a testing irregularity under ETS policies?
- Asking the proctor for additional scratch paper
- Requesting a restroom break after the first section
- Copying questions into a notebook to share online after the test (Correct answer)
- Using an approved accommodation such as extra time
Correct answer: Copying questions into a notebook to share online after the test
Reproducing or sharing test content violates ETS's confidentiality policy and constitutes a serious testing irregularity that can result in score cancellation.
Question 5: When ETS cancels a test taker's scores due to a security concern, what right does the examinee typically have?
- No right to appeal; the decision is final
- The right to request a review or hearing to contest the cancellation (Correct answer)
- Automatic refund with no further testing permitted
- The right to retake the exam immediately at no charge
Correct answer: The right to request a review or hearing to contest the cancellation
ETS generally provides examinees with an opportunity to respond to or contest a proposed score cancellation before a final decision is made, ensuring due process.
Question 6: What does ETS's Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA), accepted by test takers before computer-based exams, primarily prohibit?
- Discussing the general subject matter of the exam with friends
- Sharing, reproducing, or disclosing specific test questions or content (Correct answer)
- Posting a score to a personal LinkedIn profile
- Applying to multiple graduate programs simultaneously
Correct answer: Sharing, reproducing, or disclosing specific test questions or content
The NDA prohibits examinees from reproducing, disclosing, or sharing specific test questions and content, protecting test security and score validity.
Question 7: Which of the following best describes ETS's use of statistical analysis in test security?
- To determine which test takers qualify for scholarships
- To identify score gains or answer patterns that may indicate cheating (Correct answer)
- To set passing scores for each test administration
- To rank test centers by overall examinee performance
Correct answer: To identify score gains or answer patterns that may indicate cheating
ETS uses statistical analysis to detect unusual patterns in scores or answer responses — such as copying or unusual score jumps — that may indicate potential cheating.
ETS Test Security and Administration 1
What is the primary purpose of ETS's test security program?