ETS Education Testing Services Injustice in judging the score and delay in response USA Nationwide
My wife's did GRE 5 times which means 1000$s...as she had to meet a specific score for her PhD entrance.
3rd time she was able to score needed but it was rejected as the test was taken before 21 days of the prev attempt. This is mentioned in the ETS site but idealy I feel we should not be able to register for a test if dates are not valid. To be accurate and true we were really not aware of this limitation around test dates. When we call customer service they behaved rudely and told us that they cannot help. What a sorry situation:( In this advanced technological age i feel ETS should really validate when a candidate register for test date. If not it means they are really making millions of dollars every year. I would like them to understand that. We earn even single penny with great difficulty and preparing for these exams takes lot of time and finally we see this out put. This can even lead student to commit suicide. Do these people understand this?
Finally we decided to take test for 4th time. She prepared well and went fo test and thank GOD she scored well this time too. We waited for 14 days for result to come and on 15th day when we call ETS they told that my wife has some writing on her hand and they want written explaination. We wrote a details explanation (I have explained this below) and person who was handling our case from ETS says it will take around 20 days for them to finalize the decision. We were shocked again. We really didnt have time to wait as My wife's PhD entrance was really at the corner. We were really really shocked with ETS response. Finally we recieved a note that score was cancelled. I like to request (based on below explanation) that ETS should really refund and close themself if they cannot manage.
My wife did the exam again 5th time and she scored here as well but she was unable to submit score to univesrity at the time score appear on screen. She told the test administrator and they took a written letter from her that they will take care of this. We again waited for 14 days and realized that score was not submitted. We called the test center at longmont and executive their spoke rudely and says that they are not responsible. You paid took test and thats it if you have any question please call ETS. When we call ETS they told that they havenot recieved any letter and contact center. Just imagine what a funny situation is this.
Now my wife is not in mood to talk and she is really really upset. I am upset too. When i talked to ETS they said that they cannot talk to me and will need to talk to my wife. My wife gave them permission to talk to me but still they deny. The lady who was talking to us was so rude and just kept the phone. I as professional would like to understand what law prevent them in talking to me and giving explanation when my wife want both of us to understand why ETS is so unprofessional.
We are serious in this complain. This has wasted 100s of dollars as well as one academic year. We are so upset.
(Explanation for 3rd attemmpt)
ETS told that they will need written explanation as it was reported from center that there were some writing on her palm. We gave the written explanation as below and after 20 days ETS has cancelled the score with out any explanation. We are against it and will like to fight legally against their decision.
My wife was preparing hard for this as this was do or die situation. On the test date around noon when she was in library she recieved a call from testing center that if she can come early that will help and they can allow her to take exam earlier. My wife was scared as she was confused by test timing and call. She wrapped her work quickly. Unfortuantely there were scribbing in her hand which she could not erase due to hurry. She went to center as early as she can. Initial inspection was done (basically we expected they should have seen the palm scribbling at that time). She was allowed to go to test center room. as soon as test started one gentle man came and said you have some writing on hand. My wife showed the hand and agreed that this is scribbling and she forgot to erase due to hurry. That young man asked her to wash the hand. After that nothing was found. One thing to note here is after that she was disturbed more than 15 times. Everytime she was aksed if she has more writing, do she possess phone, they asked her to tie her hairs. They were not even allowing her to put her hand on face to think about solution for any quetsion. Such a funny situation. These people dont udnerstand that this exam is so critical and candidiate needs very comfortable environment to score. They created such a panic situation. This is unacceptable. We have called the center next day and informed about this and they apolozise about that. But this is not fair due to that they cancelled our score.
Please note that writing was just scribbling as no one was able to read it and after hands were wash nothing doubtful was found even the test administration disturbed her so many times.
We would like to claim more than 10K$s for wasting our time, money and one whole academic year.
Appreciate help and comments.
Regards,
Vikas
4 Updates & Rebuttals
Vikas
Centennial,Colorado,
Righto!
#5Author of original report
Thu, August 21, 2014
I dont really agree with stuff you mentioned. It is fair for your end to say. But I still dont agree. The main point has been taken around writing/scribling on hand but what do you think about 21 days limit and allowing a candiddate to register with out any validation? also what do yout hink about customer service not answering us? and releasing result after agreed time?
I know everything happens in a series and really a unfortunate situation. Also, you are absolutely right on you being rough and rude. I was really not expecting this sort of comments:( but i have taken your comments positively. But still i feel we need more responsibility feeling from ETS to help.
Thanks
Robert
Irvine,California,
It won't happen to me because I don't cheat.
#5Consumer Comment
Thu, August 21, 2014
If you truly don't see what you(or is it your wife as you seem to switch people throughout this report) did wrong then unfortunatly nothing anyone says is going to get through to you that you CHEATED.
Can i know why did they allow her to continue her exam to waste her time?
- Really? So I guess you would have rather them just say "get out"? If you take anything from this at least you got some additional practice you would not have gotten had they told you to leave immediatly.
Have you ever done GRE? Do you know how many minutes we get to solve one question?
- It doesn't matter if I have taken the GRE, and it doesn't matter how many minutes you have to solve one question. Why you ask? Because EVERY single person who takes the test has EXACTLY the same amount of time. That is why it is known as a "standardized test". The ONLY reason you(or your wife) were "disturbed" is because she was caught "red handed" so to speak with "scribbles" on her hand, so they were going to make sure they took away any other possible avenue a person may have for cheating. So yes, act like a cheater. You get treated like one. Oh but you say..well no one else was bothered. Yea, and I bet no one else had writing on their hand either.
Dont you think when we were trying to register they should validate that test date selected is not valid?
- Have you heard of something called "Personal Responsibilty". You are going to try and go for a Higher degree, and one would think that if you are apparently well aware of the "rules" trying to say..well they should have stopped me is really not up to the level of integrity that a PhD should be going for.
.I say as consumer I have full right to ask the reasons and explanation and they should answre me,
- Why? It seems as if you have laid out some very good reasons why you failed all of these tests. You even admit to them. Exactly what do you want them to say in addition to this?
Perhaps if they said something like "Oh you are so right we totally scrwed up..here is the $10,000 and we will let you take the test as many times as you want for free". If that is truly what you are expecting then I would immediatly suggest you hand back your Masters Degree to what ever school you got it from and say you just are too stupid to have earned it...or did you earn it.
Oh and yes..I am 100% serious and don't care if you think this is too rough. By trying to "excuse" your cheating, you are basically not making your degree worth anything more than TP, and giving everyone who actually worked their butt's off the finger. Well you didn't play by the rules and you got caught..LIVE WITH IT.
Vikas
Centennial,Colorado,
I wish you the best to happen this for you
#5Author of original report
Wed, August 20, 2014
When you say scribbling is cheating....nice way of supporting the fraud organization. Can i know why did they allow her to continue her exam to waste her time? Also, please note nothing doubtful was found at all and guy distrurbed more tnan 15 times. which means around 20 minutes of waste of time. Have you ever done GRE? Do you know how many minutes we get to solve one question?
On my claim for 3rd attempt. Even if it is on ETS site I think there should be restriction on regsitration. Dont you think when we were trying to register they should validate that test date selected is not valid? Else this is purely money mining right? You allow candidate to pay money for invalid test, allow them to prepare and finally you cancel. and fact is you know at registration that test will not be valid. Wow what a joke?
Have you read the latst point where they really dont own a response here? We just dont know who will give us explanation...I say as consumer I have full right to ask the reasons and explanation and they should answre me, They are not suppose to get rid saying there is nothing they can do...
Robert
Irvine,California,
Your claim is laughable at best.
#5Consumer Comment
Wed, August 20, 2014
Okay here is a fact you are going to have to face. Your wife at best is either dumb or just very bad at taking test, at worst she openly is trying to commit fraud.
Here are the facts..your wife failed the GRE twice. The third time she finally passed it but even though they had the rules on the web site, you somehow think it is their fault for letting her sign up for the test before she was allowed to take it. Well let me give you a little hint.
Then we get to the 4th time where she is accused of having writing on her hand. Of course that is not her fault either. After all it was the test taking center who called and said she could come and take the test earlier. Where she apparently was so frazzeled she somehow didn't have 2 minutes to step into a restroom and wash her hands. Well here is a question...if she knew she was going to be taking a test in a few hours why did she even have any writing on her hand in the first place. Has she ever heard of a Notepad? Honestly, if you are going to try and defend cheating you need to do a lot better than that lame excuse.
But this is not fair due to that they cancelled our score.
- Because she CHEATED.
Please note that writing was just scribbling as no one was able to read it and after hands were wash nothing doubtful was found
- Really? (Rolling Eyes)...honestly you really didn't just say that did you?
As for your claim of loosing more than $10,000. That is 100% on your wife. If EVERYONE was able to pass the test and get an acceptable score what is the purpose of the test. No, it served it's purpose. To weed out people who may not be quite ready to go for their PhD. My guess is that there were dozens of not hundreds of others at that testing center who were able to pass and didn't have to have writing on their hand.
Oh and just a bit of advise. If you think that this enviroment was tough...just wait until she starts her actual PhD program. You will wish the PhD program is even half as forgiving and nice as the testing center was.