IVORY TOWERS: Wave of the future

The cursor blinks over and over again. The television camera monitors each student's progress and makes sure no one is looking on someone else's screen. Eyes blurr. Heads pound. Brains turn to mush. Finally, it's all over. The computer whizzes and suddenly, a score appears on the screen. And that score could determine whether or not a student enters the graduate school of his or her choice. Students all over the country may soon be having a similar experience. In October, Educational Testing Services will begin offering a computerized version of the Graduate Record Examination General Test. The GRE is widely used by colleges and universities in their graduate admissions processes. Instead of using number two pencils to bubble in their answers, students will have the option of providing their responses via a computer keyboard. And because the test will be offered in the Philadelphia area, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies Donald Fitts said the University will probably be one of the host testing sites. The first year the test is offered on computer, the computer version will contain questions identical to the pencil-and-paper test structured in a format known as linear testing. In October of 1993, the tests will be altered and set up in a new format, known as adaptive testing. Adaptive tests allow the computer to ask a more difficult question automatically each time a student answers a question correctly until the student gives an incorrect response. After the incorrect response, the computer offers questions of varying difficulty until the student reaches a certain skill level. And fortunately or unfortunately, the score is immediately calculated and given to the student. · Students will have the option to register for the computerized version of the test this August. The cost for taking the test on computer will be $90, twice as much as the pencil-and-paper test. ETS administrators justify the higher cost by citing the computerized test's advantages. The new exam provides more testing sites and test-taking times, immediate score reporting to examinees and faster reporting time to schools. "By offering the test on computer, we're adding more than 100 sites on an additional 150 days a year," Robert Altman, ETS vice president of school and higher education programs, said. ETS has employed Sylvan Learning Centers to provide the computerized exams. Sylvan hopes to offer the test three times a week -- on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Currently, the GRE is offered five times a year. The computerized exam will have a three and a half hour time limit, but students will be allowed to work at their own paces. For example, examinees will not be confined to time limits for each section of the exam. Currently, students who finish certain sections of the test early must wait until the time limit is up. Another new feature of the test is that students will be monitored by television proctors. If an examinee has a problem with the test, the student can press a button on the computer screen, and someone will enter the room to offer assistance. · 1,200 students participated in field tests in order to gauge students' responses to the computerized exam. The research showed that students' scores were comparable between the new exam and the paper-and-pencil test. The research also revealed that the adaptive testing version has some problems. Students who took the computerized version registered various complaints against the new system. For example, students would no longer be able to review previous problems in order to change their answers. And some students who have taken the test said they would have liked to underline key words or phrases in the text of the reading comprehension sections. ETS officials have acknowledged these problems and according Executive Vice President of ETS Nancy Cole, the computer will offer test takers a second step to confirm answers. · Why offer standardized tests on computer? "It is going to be the wave of the future," ETS spokesman Kevin Gonzalez said. "Computer-based tests will allow academic administrators to more accurately assess students." Gonzalez said that adaptive testing can measure a student's ability more precisely than traditional, linear testing can. He also added that the test would be accessible to all students because of the increased number of times the exam will be offered. But Gonzalez also emphasized that the computerized tests are only an option. "People who don't like computers -- they can take the pen and pencil version," he said. He added that the test would be a great tool for procrastinators since scores can be reported to schools in as little time as three weeks. · The computerized tests will be offered in nearly 100 metropolitan areas in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Fitts emphasized that although the test will be offered in the Philadelphia area, the University is not directly involved with the testing. "ETS may rent space from the University," he said. "ETS does everything itself." Fitts added that the new tests will not affect the University's graduate admissions process. "From what I understand, the computerized test is comparable to the written one," Fitts said. "And students will still have the option of taking the written test." Engineering School Coordinator of Graduate Students Betty Schuller said she felt the primary benefit of the new test was the quick score reporting time. "Sometimes we have to hold up an application because we're waiting for [the student's] GRE scores," Schuller said. "It would be beneficial to have the scores so readily available." And Schuller said she does not feel there will be a difference between those students who take the test on computer versus those who take the pencil-and-paper version. "[Schools] will look at the scores no matter what," she said."They'll compare percentiles." But some University officials said they were unaware of the new test. Graduate School of Education Admissions Director Margaret Harkins said she had not heard about the computerized GREs and added that she planned to contact ETS to receive more information about the test. And Annenberg School Director of Graduate Admissions Pamela Robinson also said that she was unaware of the new GREs, but she added that the new test would probably not affect Annenberg graduate admissions. "I'm sure they will have [the computerized test] in keeping with regular rules and regulations," she said. But how different is the computerized GRE from the paper-and-pencil version? Because adaptive testing is considered a more accurate assessment of a student's skills, there has been concern that students will be taking two different exams. And there is the possibility that those students who have had no computer background could be at a disadvantage. According to ETS Manager of Media Relations Ray Nicosia, the two tests are similar. "Obviously, there are some differences," Nicosia said. "But our research has shown that there is no real difference between scores." Nicosia added that ETS has done extensive research comparing scores from both exams. Different students who achieve identical scores on the two exams can be classified at the same skill level. · Other standardized tests are also considering computerized options. The Scholastic Aptitude Test plans to introduce a test which will allow students to use hand-held calculators in 1994. And according to College Board Director of Admissions and Guidance Ken Hartman, the College Board is "exploring the options" of a computerized version of the SAT. "It's not for many years off," he said. "The problem is access. When you have a million and a half kids taking the test, you need a million and a half computers." He added that it is easier to locate computers on a college campus than it would be at a high school. ETS spokesman Gonzalez said it is doubtful that the SATs would consider computerization now. He also cited the greater volume of students who take the SAT versus the GRE. "It is strictly speculative at this point to say anything about it," Gonzalez said. Gonzalez added that other graduate tests such as the Graduate Management Admissions Test and the Law School Admissions Test would be more likely to offer computerized versions because of their smaller test volumes. · University students had mixed reactions to the new computerized exam. College senior Dinusha Wijesinha is planning on going to medical school next fall, and she said she would not have wanted to take the Medical College Admissions Tests or any standardized test on the computer. "I would not want to take the test on computer unless you had the opportunity to practice on the computer and see what it was like," she said. She added that people who did not own computers would not be comfortable with the exam. Doctoral candidate Kathryn Wilson also said she would prefer the paper-and-pencil version of the exam. "I'm more familiar with it," she said. "I'm used to taking exams on paper, not on a computer." Doctoral candidate Rosa-Marie Pohl took her driver's license exam on a computer. She said it was much easier the written version and that she felt less nervous while she was taking the exam. "I would probably have preferred [taking the GRE on computer] because I've had the experience," she said. "I would have felt much more at ease." · ETS is hoping students will feel at ease behind a computer screen. But if the majority of students dislike the idea of computerized exams, the new tests may not continue. ETS' current contract with Sylvan is for only 15 months and contract renewal is dependent on whether or not ETS receives a positive resonse from students. According to Gonzalez, Sylvan receives the extra $45 for administering the test. "Whether or not we continue to offer the [computerized] tests depends on its popularity," Gonzalez said. "If only 1 person takes the test, Sylvan gets $45." If Sylvan decides that the test are not profitable, it might discontinue its contract with ETS and the computerized tests would no longer be offered. However, research conducted by ETS revealed that the majority of students preferred the computerized test. ETS administrators hope its research proves correct. If so, the computerized GREs could usher in a new age of test-taking technology.

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