An irresponsible test supervisor I encountered at GUFS test center, China

[anitalane]

I took GRE test on Oct 24 in Guangdong University Foreign Studies Test Center (10139). I was appalled at one of the supervisors' unprofessional behavior. I emailed GUFS but received no response; I’ve called GUFS text center for several days but no one answered the phone. When I went to GUFS test center the other day, the chief was not there-it seems that she is never in her office. I was told by a staff that the chief had received my email yet this staff refused to tell me how they was handling this matter or when the chief was available; the only positive reply from him was that the university was not going to do anything special about the supervisor involved.

Before handing out the papers on the test day, none of the three invigilators announced rules and regulations of the test: none of them said that section crossing is a violation of regulations. Either did they make any mention that we should read relevant information on the test paper cover. Unfortunately, I was not aware of the rule as I had very little time for gathering information on the Web about the test regulations after teaching more than twenty five lessons a week and writing documents assigned by the school. I hadn’t received ETS’s sample test paper; and the registration website of GRE in China does not indicate the regulation concerning section crossing.

Then, under the urge of a few students, one supervisor set the clock ahead five minutes, leaving us no time to read the test paper covers, so that virtually we did the test immediately following filling out the answer sheets. (When I told this to test center staff, he admitted that it was violating the principle.) Without knowing that section crossing is not allowed, I did some of the questions in part one and part three selectively. Five minutes before the end of the first 30 minutes one of the teachers reminded us of the remaining time for section one. It was only then did I realize that I was not supposed to cross section. Yet strangely, when I was doing questions in part three in the first 30 minutes, no teacher ever warned me of my transgression, although they were walking around. And they were not checking students’ answer sheets either.

When the test ended, I tried to talk to one of the supervisors and, politely-actually rather respectfully-suggested that she should have told us the rule beforehand. However, she assumed a very presumptuous air even before I opened my mouth. Her only explanation was that since everybody else knows it, it is my own business to have this knowledge. When I responded in a polite way, her tone turned from impatient harshness to utter hostility and she seemed ready for a verbal fight. If not for the other two teachers' persuasion, she probably would have further scolded me with a sharp voice and humiliating tone. After no more than three minutes, she claimed that I could go and report her to the university, and then went away. And this, in a very Chinese way, suggested that I would only make a fool of myself if I did. As far as I know, this female teacher is a professor and supervisor for graduate students. Yet her professional ethics were really questionable.

What makes this ridiculous is that, on several major GRE test forums in China, some students at GUFS test center report that their supervisors paid no attention to section crossing, and a certain teacher claimed a five-minute-break during the test; a student even claimed that he or she exchanged answers with another student during the test. Most of the students expressed their satisfaction with their test supervisors' "leniency" regarding section crossing and flexibility of time. It seems that the students in different classrooms in GUFS test center complied with different rules or non-rules set by the particular supervisors rather than ETS.

In a formal test such as GRE, do the test supervisors enjoy the right to operate according to their own way of doing things and even personal mood? Does the logic that “everybody knows” free the supervisors’ responsibilities to announce important rules? I saw there was a guild book for GRE test supervisors in China at the GUFS test center and would like to know whether it specifies that the supervisors have the duty to announce crucial rules or not. If any one who is kind enough could provide me with a copy, I would appreciate it very much!

I’ve taken the National English Examination for college students in China. In my college, a loudspeaker would announce test rules to all students and teachers are required to receive training beforehand every year, and they have to write important instructions on the blackboard on the day of the test. Once a teacher makes a mistake because of negligence, the college would issue a formal statement about this throughout the school.

I'm not trying to defend myself or to put all the blame on the supervisors. It's the invigilator's negligence and hostility when answering my inquiry that propels me to write this letter. I think a few people's substandard practice can undermine ETS's reputation in China. After all, local invigilators are regarded as representatives of ETS. Guangdong University Foreign Studies Test Center is the one of the only two GRE test centers in Guangdong Province . It profits a lot from International tests and yet I doubt if some of the teachers have received proper training to be a responsible invigilator instead of merely acting as an authoritative commander getting pay for standing two hours.

As a person approaching the age of thirty, I won't be able to afford to take another GRE test. I’ve calmed down and life is going on. However, I believe that as a free individual I have my right to let me voice be heard, even if it is just a futile gesture. I’ve contacted ETS, and they said they would investigate this matter. What I most need to know is whether GRE supervisor’s guide book specifies that teachers must announce the regulation concerning section crossing or not. Am I doing something worthy or am I just making a fuss? Your kind advice is most welcome! Thank you!