A Note to Our Members about Test Security

Throughout the 90-year history of the SAT, the College Board has faced the issue of cheating. The sad truth is that cheating is as old as testing. But the internet age brings new challenges that are in no way unique to the College Board. Every testing organization — including all of the major undergraduate and graduate program admissions tests — reuse some test questions or forms. Targeted reuse is one way testing organizations ensure quality and comparability of tests over time.

Much of the reporting and internet message board activity related to cheating is focused on the old SAT. As of March 2016, there is a new SAT. Along with that redesign, we are working with our K-12 and higher ed members to examine all of our security policies and take bold steps to ensure the integrity of every administration. We’ve increased test form development to reduce form reuse, strengthened our prevention and detection techniques, and bolstered efforts to monitor and remove test content illegally posted online. We can, and will, do more.

The vast majority of students work hard, play by the rules, and do their best on the SAT and other tests. Assessment providers, the media, and the whole education community owe it to those students to stay focused on the real problem — those who cheat and steal for their own gain.