The College Board and Education Testing Services have invalidated the Advanced Placement exams of about 250 students who took the exams in May at Mills High School in Millbrae, Calif., after discovering irregularities in the administration of the test.
An ETS statement says the testing irregularities were related to improper student seating that violated the test administration and security guidelines. AP exams are administered by Princeton, N.J.-based ETS, the College Board’s global test administration and security provider.
“Ensuring that all students test under standard conditions is necessary to maintain the integrity of AP exam scores that are reported to colleges and universities,” the ETS statement says. “We understand how disappointing this decision is to the many students who worked hard to prepare for their AP exams in May and must now retake those exams. We are working with school personnel to coordinate a retest and ensure the successful administration of AP exams at Mills High School in the future.”
The San Mateo County News reports students who took the test are demanding that the College Board reinstate the test scores and not require them to take the exams again. Students at Mills established a website where they are posting their concerns and sharing stories about how the move is harming their college enrollment.
ETS officials say seating problem does not arise often. In May, AP exams were administered, and fewer than 6,000 exams (0.15 percent) invalidated because of issues including testing irregularities, security issues, and lost/missing answer sheets, according to the ETS statement.