Parents of teens earning college credit in high school may be shocked to find that many exams require identification. For those with a driver’s license, that’s usually enough, but many of you have teens without a driver’s license. What can they do?
You’ll find some very different policies regarding the acceptable forms of ID based on the test your teen is taking. I’ve done my best to collect the most current information from the more popular exams we talk about here, but know that companies can change their requirements at any time! Please, allow yourself enough time to confirm and also obtain acceptable ID for your teen.
CLEP (College Board)
Identification: Your driver’s license, passport, or other government-issued identification that includes your photograph and signature. You will be asked to show this identification to be admitted to the testing area. The last name on your ID must match the name on your registration ticket. The ID you bring must meet the following criteria:
- Be government-issued.
- Be an original document—photocopied documents are not acceptable.
- Be valid and current—expired documents (bearing expiration dates that have passed) are not acceptable, no matter how recently they may have expired.
- Bear the test taker’s full name, in English language characters, exactly as it appears on the registration ticket, including the order of the names.
- Middle initials are optional and only need to match the first letter of the middle name when present on both the ticket and the identification.
- Bear a recent recognizable photograph that clearly matches the test taker.
- Include the test taker’s signature.
- Be in good condition with clearly legible text and a clearly visible photograph.
- Military test takers must bring their military ID.
- Homeschooled students and high school students: If you do not have the required government-issued ID, please complete a Student ID Form (.pdf/55 KB) which is valid for one year. The form must be accompanied by a recognizable photo with a school or notary seal overlapping the photo. The form must be signed in front of a school official or notary. If you fail to present appropriate identification, you will not be tested.
- Examples of other types of acceptable indentification include:
- Government-issued passport with name, photograph and signature
- Driver’s license with name, photograph, and signature
- State or Province ID issued by the motor vehicle agency with name, photograph, and signature
- Military ID with name, photograph, and electronic signature
- National ID with name, photograph, and signature
- Tribal ID card with name, photograph, and signature
- A naturalization card or certificate of citizenship with name, photograph, and signature
- A Permanent Resident Card (Green Card) with name, photograph, and signature
- Source link
SAT & AP (College Board)
Note: AP Students taking AP exams at their high school do not need identification. More information about AP exams: AP Bulletin for Parents
Test center staff will compare the information on your Admission Ticket and your photo ID with the test center roster to confirm your registration and identity. You cannot be admitted to the test center if any of the information does not match. This includes the use of a nickname on one item but your full name on another. Source link
The staff is not required to hold your seat if you did not bring acceptable identification.
ID Checklist
ID documents must meet all of these requirements:
- Be a valid (unexpired) photo ID that is government-issued or issued by the school that you currently attend. School IDs from the prior school year are valid through December of the current calendar year. (For example, school IDs from 2015-16 can be used through December 31, 2016.)
- Be an original, physical document (not photocopied or electronic).
- Bear your full, legal name exactly as it appears on your Admission Ticket, including the order of the names.
- Bear a recent recognizable photograph that clearly matches both your appearance on test day and the photo on your Admission Ticket.
- Be in good condition, with clearly legible English language text and a clearly visible photograph.
Note: Not all of these requirements apply to Talent Search identification documents used by students who are in the eighth grade or below at the time of testing; however, Talent Search identification forms must bear an original student/parent signature.
Important:
Check Your ID—Every Time
Even if an ID got you into a test center before, it does not guarantee it will be acceptable in the future.
Acceptable ID Examples:
- Government-issued driver’s license or non-driver ID card
- Official school-produced student ID card from the school you currently attend
- Government-issued passport
- Government-issued military or national identification card
- Talent Search Identification Forms (allowed for eighth grade and below)
- SAT Student ID Form (.pdf/490KB); must be prepared by the school you currently attend or a notary, if home-schooled
Unacceptable ID Examples:
- Any document that does not meet the requirements
- Any document that is worn, torn, scuffed, scarred, or otherwise damaged
- Electronic document presented on a device
- Any document that appears tampered with or digitally altered
- Any document that bears a statement such as “not valid as identification”
- Credit or debit card of any kind, even one with a photograph
- Birth certificate
- Social Security card
- Employee ID card
- Missing Child (“ChildFind”) ID card
- Any temporary ID card
More About Names
If you need to make a change to your name after registering, please contact Customer Service at least 30 days prior to your intended test date. Middle names and initials are optional on your documents; however, if provided, the middle initial must exactly match the first letter of your middle name on your ID.
More About Photos
You may not be allowed to enter the test center, let alone take the test, if test center staff cannot sufficiently authenticate your identification from the ID you present. Your score may even be withheld or canceled.
Admission to the test center is no guarantee that the ID you provided is valid or that your scores will be reported. All reported or suspected cases of questionable ID or test-taker identity are subject to our review and approval before, during, and after the test administration.
ID Requirements Apply All Day
You should keep your ID and Admission Ticket with you at all times while at the test center, including during breaks. You may be required to show your ID and Admission Ticket and/or to sign a test center log multiple times and at various points throughout the test administration.
If it is discovered after your test administration that you used a false or invalid identification, your test scores will be canceled, and you will forfeit your registration and test fees. Your parent(s) or legal guardian(s) (if you are under 18), your high school, and the colleges and programs you have designated to receive your score reports will be notified and may be told why your scores were canceled. Law enforcement authorities may also be notified when fraud is suspected, and you may be banned from future tests.
If you fail to comply with these identification requirements and policies, you may be dismissed from the test center and your scores may be withheld or canceled. If you are dismissed from the test center prior to completing the test because of invalid or unacceptable ID, or failure to comply with these ID requirements and policies, your test fees will not be refunded.
If You Do Not Have Acceptable ID
If you do not have another form of acceptable ID you may be able to use the Student ID Form (.pdf/490KB). This form must be prepared and authenticated by the school you currently attend or by a notary if you are home-schooled. A current photo must be attached to the form in the area indicated before the form is notarized. This form is only valid as ID if you are testing in the United States and for test-takers under 21 years of age.
If You Are Waitlisted
In countries where waitlist status is used, you must present an acceptable school- or government-issued photo ID that has been issued in the country in which you are testing. Foreign passports, foreign national IDs, or IDs from foreign schools will not be accepted.
If You Are 21 or Older
If you will be 21 or older on test day, the only acceptable form of identification is an official government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, that meets all of the requirements above. Student ID cards are not valid forms of identification for test-takers who are 21 or older.
Testing in India, Ghana, Nepal, Nigeria, and Pakistan
The only acceptable form of identification is a valid passport with your name, photograph, and signature. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Testing in Egypt, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam
A valid passport or valid national ID card with your name, photograph, and signature are the only acceptable forms of ID. If you travel to another country to test, you must provide a passport as identification. There are no exceptions to this policy.
DSST (Prometric)
Q.4 What form of ID should I bring to the testing location when I take a DSST exam?
A. Prior to the test administration, all test takers must present current and valid picture identification such as a driver’s license, passport, or picture student identification. DANTES funded eligible military test takers must provide a valid Common Access Card (CAC). Only test takers should be permitted into the testing room. Unauthorized visitors are not permitted in the testing room at any time. Source link
Straighterline (Proctor U*)
Proctor U is the 3rd party online proctoring system currently used by Straighterline. Proctor U’s website: Always have your ID ready before connecting to a proctor. If you are unsure of what identification is needed for your exam, please reach out to your instructor for clarification. In some instances, a second ID may be required. This includes a school ID or passport. Source link
Straighterline’s Proctoring Page: Source link
Two forms of IDs, one of which must be a government-issued photo ID, as proof of identification. Valid forms of government identification are as follows:
- U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
- Driver’s license or ID card issued by a State provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address
- ID card issued by federal, state or local government agencies or entities, provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address
- U.S. Military card
- Foreign passport
Saylor Academy
OPTION 1 – Proctor U*
Proctor U is the 3rd party online proctoring system currently used by Saylor Academy. Proctor U’s website: Always have your ID ready before connecting to a proctor. If you are unsure of what identification is needed for your exam, please reach out to your instructor for clarification. In some instances, a second ID may be required. This includes a school ID or passport.
Saylor’s website: When it is time for you to take your test, log in to ProctorU and press the blue button under the “My Exam” tab to launch your proctoring session. To verify your identity, your Proctor will ask you to use a webcam to show a form of identification, and then answer a number of questions based on public record information. If you live outside of the United States, ProctorU will not have access to public record information, and you will instead be asked to show a second form of ID.
OPTION 2 – Private Proctor
Detailed information is not provided for this option. While the proctoring instructions do state that the proctor must “Verify student identification prior to entering the testing area” there are no further instructions. My recommendation is to contact Saylor Academy well in advance for clarification. Saylor Academy Help Center.
Study.com (Software Secure)
Study uses Software Secure AKA Remote Proctor Now as the third party proctoring service. Study’s proctored exam instructions simply state a student must provide “a photo ID.” Source link
ACT
*Proctor U : While not disclosed on any the websites I visited, Proctor U has the ability to use a process called Acxiom-X identifiers. These identifiers could require your student to answer a number of “unique” questions that they should know about themselves. The best resource I found identified potential 115 questions in their question bank. Acxiom’s website states
“The Acxiom Identify-X Authenticate process uses unique data generated questions to identify an individual and then verifies these individuals through our high-quality database, offering greater security to the end user.
Acxiom’s identification platform utilizes demographic and geographic data in challenge questions with nearly 900 data elements for more than 300 million individuals. Identify-X Authenticate data comes from public, publicly available and non-public proprietary databases. Identify-X Authenticate data is current and regularly updated daily, weekly and monthly, depending upon the data source.”
Obviously not all of these would apply- but examples of possible Acxiom questions that could be asked during identification verification when using Proctor U include:
- Based on your driver’s license do you wear corrective lenses?
- What professional licenses do you hold?
- What subdivision do you currently reside in?
- What state does your relative Joe live in?
- How many fireplaces did you have in your last residence?
