GRE Computer Science Test Administrations Cancelled for Security Breaches

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, August 27, 2002

GRE Computer Science Test Administrations Cancelled for Security Breaches

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An investigation revealing improper sharing of questions from the GRE Computer Science Subject Test by students in China, including Hong Kong, and India has resulted in the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Board instructing ETS to cancel administration of the test in these countries and limit administration worldwide.

The security breach is similar to one recently announced that forced the temporary suspension of the computer-based GRE General Test in parts of Asia. As a result of this latest breach, which also involved students illegally sharing memorized questions over the Internet, the GRE Board and ETS have announced that:

the November 2002 administration of the GRE Computer Science Test has been cancelled worldwide;

the Computer Science Test will only be administered in December 2002;

unlike prior years, there will be no April 2003 Computer Science Test administration, worldwide;

the GRE Computer Science Test will not be administered in India and China, including Hong Kong, in the 2002-03 testing year.

According to the ETS, significant numbers of questions from the GRE Computer Science Subject Test have been illegally revealed to test takers in recent months despite students signing an agreement they would not share questions from the test.

"If we continue to offer this test in these countries where our investigation has revealed students immediately post test questions on the Internet, it will threaten the usefulness of the test both for U.S. graduate admission officers and students worldwide," said Carole Beere, chair of the GRE Board. "From a fairness standpoint, this is the only action that will allow the large proportion of Computer Science examinees in other countries to demonstrate their capabilities for admissions committees."

In 2002, there were 862 Computer Science test takers in China, including Hong Kong, and 388 in India. The GRE Board is not permanently withdrawing the Computer Science Test in these countries, according to Beere. It is expected that the Computer Science Test will be offered again in China, including Hong Kong, and India in the fall of 2003.

" The GRE Board regrets having to take this action which is absolutely not an indictment of all Chinese and Indian students. Rather, it is a result of the need to protect the integrity and future usefulness of the Computer Science Test against the unethical actions of a minority of test takers in both countries. Applicants to graduate programs in computer science from those countries are urged to highlight their other key credentials like grade point average in relevant courses, work experience, and letters of recommendation."

Persons who registered to take the Computer Science Test in India or China in the 2002-03 testing year will be sent a full refund of their test fee. Individuals in other areas of the world who registered to take the test in November will have their registrations automatically transferred to the December administration. Those who prefer not to transfer can obtain a full refund of their test fee by contacting ETS using e-mail at http://www.gre.org/email.html or by calling 1-609-771-7670.

About the GRE Board

The Graduate Record Examinations, first administered in 1937, were an outgrowth project funded by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The GRE Board consists of 19 appointed members -- four Association of Graduate Schools appointees, four Council of Graduate Schools appointees, and 11 at-large appointees. Included among the 19 are the president of CGS who serves as an ex officio a member of the board, and the immediate past chair of the GRE Board. The testing program is developed and administered by the Educational Testing Service under GRE Board direction. Additional information is available on the GRE Web site at www.gre.org

About ETS

With estimated consolidated revenues of $700 million for FY 2002, Educational Testing Service (ETS) is the world's largest private, nonprofit educational testing and measurement organization and a leader in education research. The company is dedicated to serving the needs of individuals, educational institutions, and government bodies in nearly 200 countries. ETS develops and administers more than 12 million tests worldwide.

ETS also operates two subsidiaries: Chauncey Group International, www.chauncey.com, the leading provider of certification and licensing examinations for professionals, businesses, and government agencies; and ETS Technologies, www.etstechnologies.com, which identifies, develops and deploys innovative technologies in support of online learning and assessment applications.

Source: http://www.gre.org/

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