After hearing various horror stories from students that had taken TOEFL or IELTS and had bad experiences, I realized that there is a lot that people don’t know about required testing conditions. It also reminds me of my own experience when taking the German CSET (California Subject Examination for Teachers) back in 2005.
My Experience
Here’s some background for you. It was my senior year of college, and I needed to pass the German CSET as a part of getting my teaching credential. Given that it was a less commonly taught subject, the test was only offered twice a year. I had missed the test the previous November because I was at my brother’s wedding reception in New Jersey, so it was really important for me to pass it this time. I didn’t have a car in Los Angeles and this was before the time of Uber, so I had to figure out bus routes to get to the text center in Culver City from Eagle Rock (between Pasadena and Glendale) in time for the registration at 8:30 on a Saturday morning.
I got there safe and sound, and I was prepared for the grueling 3.5-hour test. The reading, listening, and writing section went fine, and I just had the speaking section left. There were two or three speaking prompts, and back at that time it required the use of a CD and CD player. The proctor put the CD in, and it stated the instructions and the first prompt. I then had 15 seconds of thinking time, then 45 seconds to give my response after the beep. Then another beep would indicate the end of time to give my response.
Well, it didn’t happen that way. Something happened where I heard two beeps within a few seconds of each other. I asked the proctor if I was supposed to start giving my response, and he said yes. I panicked and gave the best response possible, and then as I was speaking the recording said “You may begin giving your response now.” At that point I was very confused.
Given the rules regarding keeping the test standardized, he wasn’t allowed to restart or pause the CD. I was then in a panic for the following question, and I was so frustrated. I talked to a test administrator and explained the situation to her, but she was very defensive and said that she didn’t see what the problem was; according to her, I was able to give a response within the allotted time. I had to articulate that I didn’t have the allotted thinking time and the proctor wasn’t able to give me accurate information.
I followed up, and they ultimately gave me a waiver to take the test again at no cost. Somehow I managed to pass the test despite what happened.
What are standardized tests exactly?
As the name suggests, these tests are standard. That means that a score of 90 on TOEFL is equivalent for a test taker in India, China, Indonesia, Chile, Brazil, and any other part of the world. An overall score of 8.0 on IELTS means the same level for all test takers, regardless of their background or first language. For this same reason, you won’t find anything related to PARSNIPS (politics, alcohol, religion, sex, narcotics, isms, and pork) on international tests, as those topics are taboo in various cultures and parts of the world.
In addition to the test content, the testing conditions need to be uniform for test takers. This means that the instructions are read aloud word for word by the test proctor, every test taker has the same exact amount of time available, and a quiet testing environment. In the case of taking a computerized test, all of the equipment must work properly. This means that the keyboard must be able to type every single key, the headphone has to produce the audio at a volume that the test taker can hear, and the monitor must work with a screen bright enough for the test taker to read the text on the screen.
In the case of test takers with special needs, they must be accommodated. This could mean that test takers that are visually impaired must be provided with text that is large enough for them to read. Those that are hearing impaired must be provided with an atmosphere that ensures that they can head the audio. There are many more examples of this, but I think you get the idea.
What issues can occur with standardized tests?
Given that these exams are used for admission for academic programs and immigration, it’s important that they are valid. If there are any issues of test takers receiving any type of assistance or having any type of problem that interfere with their performance, it not only invalidates their score but also affects the fairness of the test for everyone else.
There are a variety of things that can go wrong. Imagine you’re taking a computer-based test, but the keyboard isn’t completely working. This could lead to you typing out your responses to the writing section. The computer monitor might stop working during a timed portion of the test, and you need to ask a proctor to help fix it. As a result, you might lose a minute or two of time on that section and run out of time to complete the test. When taking the speaking section of the IELTS, examiners are trained to keep a neutral expression on their face as to not influence how a student feels they are doing with their response. I’ve had students tell me about examiners that have shown distracting body language that interrupted their responses or left them confused or feel that they were giving a bad response.
All of those situations are beyond a test taker’s control, and it invalidates their scores. Given that these tests require a significant investment of time, energy, and money, in a perfect world these situations should never happen. Unfortunately the world isn’t perfect. Technology malfunctions. Glitches happen. People make mistakes, and sadly in some cases they don’t take their jobs as seriously as they should.
What can we test takers do about potential issues?
If you’re taking a standardized test such as IELTS or TOEFL at a physical test center, I suggest doing the following:
- When you are assigned to your seat, check that the computer, mouse, keyboard, headset, and any other equipment is in perfect working order.
- Be sure that the chair you are sitting in is sturdy and not making any type of creaking noise that could distract you or others.
- Read the instructions carefully, and follow any instructions about checking equipment completely.
- In the case of taking a paper-based test, the listening section might be given for everyone in the room at the same time. In that case, be sure that the volume is loud enough for you to hear.
If there are any problems that occur in any of these areas, I recommend doing one of the following:
- Advise the proctor right away.
- Ask for a solution. This could be something like being given a new keyboard or a new test station with fully functioning equipment.
- If the proctor is unable to do so, it can be difficult to decide what to do, especially if the clock is ticking during a timed session. You can either ask to speak to a test supervisor and explain the situation, or you could complete the test to the best of your ability.
- In the case of an issue with an examiner during a speaking test, ask to speak to a supervisor after completing the test but before leaving the test site.
- If the situation wasn’t resolved to your satisfaction or you feel that it impacted your ability to perform well on the test, you should file an official report with a test supervisor before you leave the test site. Document the incident with approximate times, names of the proctor and test supervisor, and the steps they took and anything they said in order to resolve the issue.
- When you arrive home, you should write to the organization reporting the issue directly to them. Just because you talked to the proctor and test supervisor doesn’t mean that they will follow through.
- The organization should offer some type of compensation for the situation. This might take the form of a voucher to take the test again at another date or a refund of testing fees.
Conclusion
Preparing for an international exam is a huge endeavor requiring a significant investment of time, energy, and money. Standardized tests are meant to provide test takers with an exam that is valid not only for the individual but also in comparison to all other test takers from all over the world. If something happens with your testing experience, don’t be afraid to speak up and advocate for yourself. While it isn’t something that is formally evaluated in many parts of life, it’s an important skill to have, especially with the prospect of living and working in another country.
