By: Neval Mulaomerovic
While some irregularities still exist, taking the December SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) at MHS went smoothly for test-takers, according to an anonymous survey administered by The Union. 30 randomly selected students were questioned on their proctor’s testing procedures and the overall efficiency of their testing experience on the day of the SAT.
Proctors collected phones for 27 respondents (90%) while the other three respondents (10%) were allowed to keep their devices. Proctors are required to collect all electronic devices from students before the start of the test, according to the College Board testing manual.
Proctors distributed testing materials when students were seated for 22 respondents (73%), while test booklets were placed on desks by the time students entered the room for eight respondents (27%).
“[Proctors] monitor test materials at all times,” according to the College Board’s Testing Manual. “Do not leave them unattended under any circumstances. Do not distribute any test materials until instructed to do so in the scripts.”
Most seats were arranged with sufficient space between each desk, with 21 respondents (70%) reporting two feet of space between each seat. However, six students (20%) had their desks arranged in rows with less than two feet of space between each seat, and three students (10%) had desks in their room touching with no space between them.
13 students (43%) were allowed to pick their own seats in the testing room while 17 students (57%) were assigned seats by their proctor.
“[Proctors] assign seats at random or by prearrangement with the supervisor,” according to the College Board’s Testing Manual. “Never allow students to select their own seats.”
Many proctors failed to follow College Board protocol, Social Studies Teacher Michael Cummins said. Students in multiple rooms were allowed to keep their phones and sit at desks facing each other, he said.
“When a test is supposed to be standardized like the SAT, you would think that it should be given exactly the same not only in every room in Milpitas, but in every room in the country,” Cummins said. “So it was shocking to me to learn that not every adult proctor felt that way.”
Testing rooms opened between 8:00 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. for 24 respondents (80%) and between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. for three respondents (10%). The remaining three students (10%) were let into their test rooms between 7:45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
The December SAT was an improvement from past SATs at MHS due to the feedback from students and teachers, SAT Supervisor Jonathan Mach said. Changes in testing protocol were made to prevent irregularities that occurred in November, such as students’ phones ringing during the test, he said.
“We put cell phone pouches in each texting box,” Mach said. “We made everybody collect it. Before, it was up to [the proctors], but some proctors were just too loose on that and so those proctors were not asked to come back. We also put laminated signs into each box about what they need to do, open the door at what time, make sure all the chairs are facing this side. We made huge signs to make sure they followed all these rules.”
Proctors who previously performed poorly were not asked to return in December, Mach said. In addition to instructing proctors to ensure that chairs were spaced out correctly, staff went to each room to make sure that chairs faced the same direction and that no seats were too close to each other, he said.
“The December [SAT] was much much better,” Mach said. “[Students] gave me a list of things that they thought could have been done better and then I took that and then implemented it for the December SAT. With improving, we want to make sure we find our regular proctors to test and hopefully they just start coming back. It’s just a matter of time and giving [proctors] the practice to do it.”
Out of the 16 respondents who had taken the SAT at a different campus before, eight students (50%) considered MHS to be more efficient than the site of their previous test. The remaining eight students (50%) rated the MHS SAT as equally efficient as their prior testing experience.
