How can a college entry test like the SAT or ACT claim to be "standardized" if one unprofessional, untrained proctor can undermine the efforts of an entire room of students?

These tests are often regarded as a critical key to college acceptance and financial aid. They are beastly -- they are stressful -- so our students deserved to not have months and years of learning and preparation jeopardized by chance.

An online search for "SAT/ACT proctor nightmares" illuminates cases of proctors being on the phone during the test, preventing students from using the bathroom, letting students return to completed sections and change answers, skipping the break, and falling asleep. Not to mention a host of timing discrepancies.

As an education professional of 7 years, and an SAT/ACT tutor for 4, I see firsthand the weight of these tests, on students, on parents, on entire school communities. I've seen students brought to tear by their experience with these tests. And some students can afford to have one test ruined by a proctor, but thousands cannot.

In order to be truly standardized, the SAT and ACT can't allow a proctor or test site to impact and student's performance. We'd like to see assurance for the SAT and ACT that the proctor and test site experience will be truly standardized. This likely means stricter proctor employment guidelines and better training. It also would mean clear delineation of the necessary features of a test site (open bathrooms, a clock, etc).