NCTA Conference 2010
LSAT Test Security:
Prohibited or Not?
Faisel Alam & Nancy Miller
Law School Admission Council
(215) 968-1100
LSAC.org
© Law School Admission Council 2010
MEET THE LSAT
• 7 US administrations/year
• 6 Total sections:
 5 multiple-choice
 1 UNSCORED writing
sample
 1 UNSCORED multiplechoice section
• One approximate fifteen
minute break after section 3
• All test takers within a room
work on the same section
• 35 minutes per section
• Students wait until end of
test to be dismissed (except
for illness or cancellation of
scores)
• Total testing time is
approximately 4 hours (not
including check in)
• Can only take a twice, but a
3rd time with permission from
a law school
© Law School Admission Council 2010
LSAC REQUIRES A STANDARDIZED
TESTING ENVIRONMENT
Standardized = Consistent
• Test is given under the same conditions, no
matter where it is administered throughout
the world, no matter what day
• Goal: make sure students take the test under
the same conditions
© Law School Admission Council 2010
SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS
Pre-Knowledge: When someone gains
access to test content before it is
administered.
How?
While materials are being
shipped or after materials
have been delivered
(during storage).
Sadly, beware of
internal fraud
OR
Materials are compromised
during check in (unattended
booklets) or during test
distribution.
© Law School Admission Council 2010
SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS
• Brain Dump sites
 Sites designed for test takers to recreate the exam
after leaving the testing center
 Some sites sell parts of the exam
• Message boards
 Toplawschools.com
 LSATdiscussion.com
• Auction Houses
 eBay, uBid, Craig’s List, etc.
© Law School Admission Council 2010
SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS
Impersonation: When one person takes the
test for another.
•
•
•
•
Use of another person’s ID / false ID
Switching of answer sheets
Changing seats
Mis-gridding the answer sheet
See page 2 and 3 in handout
© Law School Admission Council 2010
SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS
Copying/Communicating:
•
•
•
•
Copying from another person (opportunistic)
Working on the wrong section or after time is called
Putting information on clothing, water bottle, etc.
Communicating with others during the test (i.e. color
coded M&Ms: red is A, blue is B…) or at break
• Stashing information or equipment in a restroom,
hallway, etc.
• Receiving information via text message or phone
© Law School Admission Council 2010
SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS
http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2010/04/ho
w-to-cheat-on-test.html
© Law School Admission Council 2010
SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS
• Earphones
 Test taker
communicates
with someone
outside of testing
area
 Ear bud receiver
fits comfortably
inside ear
© Law School Admission Council 2010
SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS
http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2010/04/ho
w-to-cheat-on-test.html
© Law School Admission Council 2010
SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS
Stealing test materials:
• Taking test material out of the room or
center (stealing pages from booklet)
• Hidden recording devices (phones, pens,
cameras)
© Law School Admission Council 2010
SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS
VS
When hygiene goes wrong…
© Law School Admission Council 2010
SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS
• Stealing test materials:
 Transmitting information via text/phone
Cell Phones – not just for calling mom or dad
Source: http://www.commonsensemedia.org/hi-tech-cheating
© Law School Admission Council 2010
CELL PHONE DETECTORS
© Law School Admission Council 2010
LSAC PROHIBITED ITEMS POLICY
• Prohibited electronic items
include, but are not limited
to:
 Electronic timers of any kind
 Beeping watches, alarm
watches, calculator watches
 Cell phones, pay phones,
beepers, pagers, PDAs
 Personal computers
 Calculators
 Photographic or recording
devices
 Listening devices
 Headsets, iPods, or other
media players
• Prohibited nonelectronic
items include, but are not
limited to:
 Books, dictionaries, papers
of any kind
 Rulers, slide rules,
compasses
 Mechanical pencils
 Briefcases, handbags,
backpacks
 Earplugs
 Hat/hoods (except religious
apparel) may not be worn
on the head
 Weapons or firearms –
immediate dismissal
© Law School Admission Council 2010
ACTIVITY # 1:
Prohibited
Items
ALLOWED ITEMS:
ID, wallet, keys,
medical or hygiene
supplies, tissues,
pencils, erasers,
sharpener,
highlighters, snack,
beverage, admission
ticket
© Law School Admission Council 2010
TESTING STAFF PROVIDE THE BEST
SAFEGUARDS AGAINST SECURITY
BREACHES
•
•
•
•
Be alert
Don’t ignore a problem once you see it:
address it
Support your fellow staff members
Know and follow the policies and
procedures in the LSAC’s Supervisor’s
Manual
© Law School Admission Council 2010
THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?
Faisel Alam
Test Security Specialist
Law School Admission Council
falam@LSAC.org
© Law School Admission Council 2010