1. Testing Goes Global
Laura Morrill Hammami, AMIDEAST Leisha Griffith-Mark, St. George’s University (Grenada) Sirine Sidani, Doha (Qatar)
Pleasure to e here : )
Overview
Importance of intl testing\
How differs from Dom
challenge

2. Globalization and International Student Mobility
10% of grad students in the US are foreign
ETS Global’s annual sales – $26.19M
2009 for the first time the majority of examinees sitting for the GMAT exam were non-US citizens.
Globalization touches all aspects of our economy, testing is no different.
Let’s look at a few of the major players in the academic testing marketplace
10% according to the Institute for International Education
Huge increases in the numbers of students studying outside of their home country,
fueling the need for internationally available academic tests.
English tests (TOEFL), and also graduate admissions exams (GMAT, GRE) to
serve the roughly 10% of grad students in the US coming from abroad.

3. Why is international testing important to the US economy?
Availability of testing services is a key first step in the university admissions process
Department of State (Education USA) devotes significant funds to advising each year to promote education in the US
Networks of non-profits and for-profit testing centers ensure availability of tests abroad
Students study in US (considered as an export); they contribute significantly to local, state and federal levels…
Other benefits: students, most of whom ultimately return to their home countries:
Better understanding of and appreciation for, US culture
This collective ‘good will’ can be an important diplomatic tool
This is the reasoning behind Fulbright and similar grants

4. Expansion of both CBT and PBT Globally
Expansion of Computer-Based Testing
Companies such as Prometric offer global coverage
Mobile Testing has increased access, but is expensive
Paper-Based Testing
Costs of CBT can be prohibitive
Large administrations on fixed dates still used PBT model (SAT)

5. How does international testing different from domestic testing?
Administration is the same as it is in the US
Physical distance: time zones, increased lead time, etc.
Major regional and local variations:
Infrastructure
Business practices
Even government regulation
Ability to adapt to local conditions is limited

6. Burgers = Success in the USA
McDonald’s answer to exporting their goods/ service : adapt

7. McDonald’s India = No Burgers
One standardized item on the menu
+ Very limited ability to adapt according to local needs
____________________________________
= Increased complexity, increased costs

8. Challenges of testing outside the US
Logistical challenges
Cultural differences
US business practices not universally known/accepted/possible
Different customer service level expectations
Payment issues
Registration issues
Logistical – can range from power outages to conservation of bandwidth (gov decree), customs issues for PBT tests, lizards in the computer
Cultural challenges – i.e. ID rules inconceivable to certain candidates, some cultures are test-happy (Korea), other less so.
Eating the earplugs
US business practices –
Customer service level expectations – test center is the face they know. Personal relationships vs. big corporate call center

9. Sirine Sidani testing services coordinator Qatar foundation

10. Qatar

11. Facts about Qatar
Qatar is known for its natural gas reserves (about 15% of the total world reserve & the third largest in the world)
It is in the process of reforming its k-12 & higher education systems & this includes change in language & creating a more student oriented approach to learning
The idea of testing & assessment is another central part of this reform since it is a relatively new concept

12. Qatar Foundation
Qatar Foundation is a private non-profit organization that is dedicated to build human capital & a sustainable society where the sharing & creating knowledge will enhance the quality of life for all
Qatar Foundation’s Education City is a home for 6 state of the art branch campuses for 6 of the most renown reputable American universities: Texas A&M, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern, Weil Cornell, Georgetown, Virginia Commonwealth
All branch campuses have the same admission requirements as their home campuses
Qatar Foundation is not only becoming an educational hub for the region but a testing hub as well

13. Registration related challenges:
Challenges we face when administering standardized exams fall under three categories: Registration related issues, Cultural/ID issues, Testing space
Registration related challenges:
Increase fee registration due to the international testing fee
Many don’t have a credit card nor internet access at home
Missing out on deadline because registration stops a month before exam date

14. Cultural/ID challenges:
Language is a huge limitation
Bubble answer sheet / scantron is new concept
Misconception that for SAT & ACT only Math sections are required and not the verbal English sections
Many fail to bring the appropriate original ID due to age factor or not reading test requirements
Test space challenges:
Having to book halls in other buildings and facilities way ahead of time
Conflicts with other events happening on campus

15. Looking forward to our move to our new Student Center which houses our new Testing Center to try to eliminate most of these challenges
At the end of the day, the gratitude candidates express when we reach out and help them makes all the long working hours on weekends worthwhile.

16. Sirine Sidani ssidani@qf.org.qa +974-557-78422 www.qf.org.qa
Contact info
Sirine Sidani

17. Leisha Griffith-Mark Coordinator of Examination Services St
Leisha Griffith-Mark Coordinator of Examination Services St. George’s University Grenada

18. Leisha Griffith-Mark Coordinator of Examination Services
The importance of exams as a way of measuring knowledge and achievement, as well as distributing credentials to candidates in various professions cannot be denied. However, increased competitiveness to obtain professional and educational opportunities contributes to high incidences of academic fraud.
Here at SGU we are not immune to this. Our examination guidelines were established to discourage academic fraud or irregular behaviour in examinations. Irregular behaviour is defined as “any action by examinees or others when solicited by an examinee that subverts or attempts to subvert the examination process...”
Leisha Griffith-Mark
Coordinator of Examination Services

19. Grenada Pronounced “Gree-nay-dah”
344 sq kilometers i.e. 133 square miles
Population: approx. 90,000

20. About Grenada Aka the “Isle of Spice”
Tri-island state: Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique
Located in the Eastern Caribbean (southern extremity of the Windward Islands)
Warm climate ( degrees F year round)
Became an independent nation on 7th February, 1974
2nd largest producer of nutmeg after Indonesia
8th time goal medalist at international Chelsea Flower Show

21. National Flag Symbols represent:
Six stars - six parishes; center star - capital city, St. George’s
Red – courage and vitality of the people
Yellow – sun and the warmth of the people
Green – agriculture and lush vegetation
- large nutmeg producer

22. About SGU Established in 1976
Offers degrees in medicine, veterinary medicine, nursing, public health, arts & sciences and business
Current enrollment is almost 5000 students

23. About SGU

24. Examination Services
We are here 24

25. Examination Services 2003-2006
Office established around 2003
Staffed by 2 faculty members, one administrative staff and 18 proctors
Proctored internal departmental Special Accommodation exams largely for SOM and some SVM courses
Proctored only one external exam namely the NBVME Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE)

26. Examination Services 2007-2010
Staffed by one coordinator, two assistant coordinators, one administrative staff and 60 proctors
Provide proctoring assistance for all school within the university with special emphasis on Special Accommodation exams.
External exams proctored:
NBVME Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE)
GRE (paper based exam)
NBME

27. Challenges with Administering External Examination
Lack of a dedicated test center (competition for space).
Shorter registration deadlines .
Local examinees have limited access to US credit cards for registration purposes.
Limitations with shipping services on the island (DHL, FedEx etc).
Some local examinee unfamiliar with scantrons forms and how they should be completed.

28. Examination Services 2007-2010 cont’d
The unit is also responsible for:
Grading of all university examinations (centralized grading)
Facilitating of end of term course and faculty evaluations for the university.

29. Special Accommodation Exams
Priority is always given to the administering of Special Accommodation exams.
SA students must provide documentation to the Dean of Students’ office for review by the Disabilities Committee in order to receive SA.
Students can receive:
Temporary accommodation i.e. for a single semester or exam pending additional documentation.
Permanent accommodation i.e. for the duration of their classes at the university.

30. Special Accommodation cont’d
Special Accommodation exam allowances include:
Extra quiet environment
Extra time
Use of highlighters
Consuming of an energy drink/bar after 4 hours of testing.
Consuming of a snack (exam time is suspended until student returns from break)
Standing and stretching during exams
Increased font size on exam booklet

31. Outside the Main Venue

32. Post a Seating Plan outside of venue

33. Inside the Venue

34. Lead and Support Proctors are responsible for:
Preparing the exam room
Ensuring the orderly admission and dismissal of examinees as per the Chief Proctor’s instructions.
Monitoring of examinees for the duration of the examination and noting any “Irregular / Unprofessional Behavior” which may occur during the exam.
Ensuring minimal disturbances during the examination.
Escorting examinees to and from authorized breaks such as bathroom breaks.
Collecting and inventorying exam booklets and answer sheets at the end of the exam.

35. Examination booklets should be numbered to facilitate more efficient distribution of exams, easier tracking and identification of individual students’ exam booklets and a more organized inventory of examination booklets at end of the exam.

37. During the Exam
The importance of exams as a way of measuring knowledge and achievement, as well as distributing credentials to candidates in various professions cannot be denied. However, increased competitiveness to obtain professional and educational opportunities contributes to high incidences of academic fraud.
Here at SGU we are not immune to this. Our examination guidelines were established to discourage academic fraud or irregular behaviour in examinations. Irregular behaviour is defined as “any action by examinees or others when solicited by an examinee that subverts or attempts to subvert the examination process...”

38. Examination Services Other Activities
Training Sessions:
Proctor Training – Implementing the university examination policies.
Faculty – How to effectively/efficiently administer an examination.
Students – University policies concerning examination and the examinee.

39. Examination Services Future Plans
Dedicated test center which will facilitate Internet Based Testing
Offering of other external exams (GMAT, CLEP, computer based GRE, other vocational exams)
Hiring of additional staff
Proctor uniforms and rewards program

40. University website: www.sgu.edu
Contact Info
Leisha Griffith Mark
University website:
Phone:

41. Laura morrill hammami program officer, testing amideast
Intro myself
IB, France
Prom –
APTC/ Africa
Int ops \ SHARE STORIES
lizard
candies
Mobile testing in carib
AMideast

42. AMIDEAST
1950s
mission

43. AMIDEAST Based in Washington, DC Advising & Testing unit
work closely with US State Department’s Education USA program
13 field offices
AMIDEAST - network of testing centers abroad, supported by US-based HQ office.
Each field office maintains an Advising Office to support needs of students in the ME who wish to study in the US

44. Testing Programs Prometric testing labs: USMLE, etc. TOEFL, GRE GMAT
SAT
CLEP, DSST, other academic exams
Institutional testing, especially EL exams: TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication), ITP TOEFL
Testing programs include: (Prometric labs), US-based academic testing, full range of academic/professional testing.  Close partnership with ETS.

45. Special Testing Services
High stakes exam in Egypt
Bulk registration service
Security measures: secure storage, observers
Score reporting – receive scores in bulk and distribute scores them locally
Local Registration Service
Score reporting – often unreliable mail system

46. Testing trends in the Middle East/North Africa
Continued need for PBT services in our region
Test results being used locally
AMIDEAST will continue to work with testing clients and candidates to facilitate the expansion of testing programs in support of our mission
Example: ITP (Institutional TOEFL) becoming increasingly popular for local use as iBT TOEFL is prohibitively expensive based on local economic conditions. (Jordan, Iraq) 
US-Style universities in the ME, such as the American University of Cairo, universities in Lebanon, etc
CONCLUSION
Hope you’ve enjoyed
What Timbuktu might be like …

47. Website: www.amideast.org
Contact Info
Laura Morrill Hammami
Website:
Phone: