Test Security Policies and Procedures

Categories of Security Irregularities

  1. Severe Irregularities
    • Examples: Cheating, stealing test content, providing unauthorized help, using unapproved devices, discussing test content publicly, or leaving test materials unattended.
    • Action Required: Immediate notification to the New Mexico Help Desk and submission of the Test Irregularity Reporting Form within 24 hours.
  2. Moderate Irregularities
    • Examples: Incorrect logins, unsupervised students, incorrect accommodations, and disruptions of online access.
    • Action Required: Use the Test Irregularity Reporting Form to contact GAAA within 24 hours if invalidation is necessary.
  3. Minor Irregularities
    • Examples: Late arrivals, minor distractions, unintentional submissions, or blank responses.
    • Action Required: These can generally be resolved locally by the Test Coordinator and school staff.

General Guidance

  • Avoiding Security Violations: Refrain from discussing specific test content or questions publicly. Discussions about general topics or previous test experiences should be limited to immediate family.
  • Training and Prevention: Ensure all staff involved in test administration are thoroughly trained on security policies and ethical behavior. Preventive measures include rigorous training, promoting professional ethics, and monitoring testing sessions.

Preventive Measures

  • Disorderly Testing Sessions: Prevent by familiarizing staff with testing policies, training thoroughly, and promoting a culture of ethics.
  • Exposure of Secure Content: Screen testing environments and train staff responsible for handling test materials.
  • Cheating: Conduct random observations and monitor test sessions.

Reporting Violations

  • Action: Report any breaches or irregularities to GAAA immediately, as they reserve the right to take necessary actions to address security issues and protect intellectual property.

If you have specific questions about the policies or need further details, feel free to ask!

Severe Irregularities Security breaches, such as cheating or stealing test content, are events that pose a potential threat to the validity of the test. In addition, such incidents cause the loss of copyrighted assets and might result in the removal of the test item(s) from future testing. These breaches are considered SEVERE and may include but are not limited to:

  • Student intentionally uses incorrect login (taking the test for someone else).
  • Student copies answers or provides answers during testing.
  • Students discuss test questions during breaks.
  • Student accesses a cell phone, web browser, or recording device to find answers or to record test items.
  • Student removes test materials from the testing room.
  • Student or staff disseminates or discusses test content to others within school or district or via public forums (social media, websites) before, during, or after testing.
  • Staff loses login information (printed tickets are missing) or a theft occurs of login information before testing.
  • Staff provides students with materials or devices that are not allowed during testing.
  • School or district staff coaches, provides answers, or modifies student responses.
  • Staff resets a test to give student a second attempt at testing.
  • Staff leaves room unsupervised during testing.
  • Staff intentionally or unintentionally administers a secure test for practice.
  • Unauthorized person(s) accesses online test content or student records.

If you need to have a test invalidated or you have evidence that test content has been made available outside of the test administration, call the New Mexico Help Desk immediately. Use the Testing Irregularity Reporting Form to report the incident within 24 hours.

Moderate Irregularities Serious misconduct before, during, or after testing might have high potential impact to individuals or groups who are testing. Such irregularities might affect student performance, test security, and validity. These irregularities are considered MODERATE and may include but are not limited to:

  • Student unintentionally uses incorrect login.
  • Student leaves the testing room without supervision or permission.
  • Student moves ahead in test (session access codes provided by mistake).
  • Staff provides incorrect accommodations for student.
  • Staff intentionally provides session access codes before the appropriate time.
  • Staff allows a test session to be tested over multiple days.
  • Disruption of online access to testing system.

If a Moderate-level irregularity occurs that requires that the test be invalidated, use the Test Irregularity Reporting Form to contact Greater Alaska Accreditation Association within 24 hours of the occurrence.

Minor Irregularities Improper behavior or minor disruptions have low potential impact on individuals or groups who are testing, and they have low potential risk of affecting student performance, test security, or validity. These irregularities are considered MINOR and may include but are not limited to:

  • Student arrives late.
  • Student or staff makes distracting motions or sound while testing.
  • Student is not focused on the test or constantly looking around.
  • Student leaves the test due to illness.
  • Student leaves an entire section or test blank.
  • Student randomly marks answers on test or answers in a pattern.
  • Student unintentionally submits test before completion.
  • Staff gives incorrect instructions or deviates from the directions for administration.
  • All students need to leave the room during testing (fire drill, emergency evacuation).

If a Minor irregularity occurs, the Test Coordinator and school staff can resolve the issue locally.

General Guidance Students and educators often wonder how far the rules on protecting test security extend. Clearly, broadcasting test item content and reading passages by posting on the web, using social media, or discussing them with colleagues or friends compromises test security. In addition, students and teachers may be aware of the main ideas of some test item content and reading passages before a test administration (e.g., by recalling a previous test administration). Greater Alaska Accreditation Association’s position is that discussing the topic of a reading selection or the content of test items is most likely a security violation. Our advice is to avoid such discussions.

Here, general discussion of reading topics and the general nature of test items may be appropriate—as long as these general discussions do not extend beyond immediate family discussions.