New SAT and ACT Security Measures

This week, officials from ACT and the College Board announced new security measures designed to combat the types of cheating scandals we've seen in recent years.

Starting in the 2012-13 college admissions cycle, students will have a hard time hiring imposters to take the SAT or ACT for them. You can read about the enhanced security measures in the press release on the College Board website: Enhanced SAT Security Measures Announced for 2012-13 Academic Year.

Some highlights of these new measures include:

• Students must submit (online or through the mail) a photo at the time of registration.
• Students who fail to identify the high school they attend can not register.
• Test center changes must be made in advance of the test.
• Standby testing will no longer be allowed.
• Students must present their photo admission ticket and a photo ID at the test center.
• Test center supervisors will have student information including a photo roster.
• Test-takers will be subject to additional ID checks throughout the day.
• Test-takers must sign a more comprehensive statement certifying their exams were taken honestly.
• High schools will receive all scores for their students.
• High schools and colleges will have access to students' registration information including the photos.

These changes were made in consultation with a security firm run by a former Director of the FBI. Nevertheless, the new system is not foolproof. I worry that identical twins will still be able to cheat the system, as will students who look like their pets. Also, further advancements in face transplant surgery could open up a new avenue for cheating. Finally, there's the possibility that the person checking IDs is sleepy and really doesn't care that much.

So even though I have not worked for the FBI or CIA, I'd like to offer ACT and the College Board these suggestions for added test security:

• A herd of specially trained dogs will prowl each test center to sniff out cheaters.
• All test takers must be fingerprinted and eye scanned at the time of registration. All test center entry gates will have thumbprint and retinal scanners.
• All test-takers must walk through full-body x-ray scanners before entering the exam center to make sure they haven't hidden any #1 or #3 pencils on their bodies.
• Test-takers must submit to random blood and urine tests designed to detect cheating.
• No beverages over 3 ounces will be allowed in the test center.
• Immediately following the exam, all test-takers will be boarded onto aircraft and flown to undisclosed overseas locations for rendition. Waterboarding can be used whenever cheating is suspected.
• Ivy League Special Ops forces can awaken applicants in the middle of the night to make sure they can define "adumbrate," "grandiloquence" and "solipsistic."

Another option for students would be to apply to one of these 850 test-optional colleges, but where's the fun in that?