© Law School Admission Council 2010 NCTA Conference 2010 LSAT Test Security: Prohibited or Not? Faisel Alam & Nancy Miller Law School Admission Council (215) 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 multiple- choice section 35 minutes per section Total testing time is approximately 4 hours (not including check in) One approximate fifteen minute break after section 3 All test takers within a room work on the same section Students wait until end of test to be dismissed (except for illness or cancellation of scores) Can only take a twice, but a 3 rd time with permission from a law school

© Law School Admission Council 2010 LSAC REQUIRES A STANDARDIZED TESTING ENVIRONMENT 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 Standardized = Consistent

© 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). Materials are compromised during check in (unattended booklets) or during test distribution. OR Sadly, beware of internal fraud

© 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 1 is A 2 is C 3 is A

© Law School Admission Council 2010 SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS 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 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) BUTTONHOLE CAMERA

© Law School Admission Council 2010 SECURITY: COMMON CONCERNS When hygiene goes wrong… VS

© 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:

© 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 ALLOWED ITEMS: ID, wallet, keys, medical or hygiene supplies, tissues, pencils, erasers, sharpener, highlighters, snack, beverage, admission ticket ACTIVITY # 1: Prohibited Items

© 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