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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 28, 1995)
GRE format change delayed Testing service to implement shift in 1999 By Rebecca Pitmans Staff Reporter The Educational Testing Ser vice has postponed changing its Graduate Record Examination to a computer-only format until 1999. In 1993, ETS introduced the computerized version of the GRE, a graduate-school admissions test taken by almost half a million stu dents each year. The test is adap tive; questions become more diffi cult as a student answers more questions correctly. ETS originally planned to re place the pencil-and-paper test with the computerized version by 1997. Several changes related to the GRE have been made since De cember 1994, when a dispute with Kaplan Educational Centers oc curred. Kaplan, a nationwide test preparation service, heard evidence that students were seeing similar questions on the tests,” said Ann Mecca, a spokeswoman for Kaplan. Kaplan had 20 investigators take the test. After taking the test, they were able to reconstruct a portion of the test from memory. A few weeks after Kaplan’s in vestigation, ETS canceled 75 per cent of the test dates through June. Before the investigation, the com puterized GRE test was offered up to six days a week in some loca tions. The test will be offered one week a month at least until June. But Kaplan’s actions are not the reason ETS delayed changing over to a computer-only format, said Tom Ewing, spokesman for ETS. “It’s disturbing that Kaplan is portraying the delay as something they caused when it is not,” Ewing said. The reason for the delay, Ewing said, is because more time is needed to prepare for the conversion. “The GRE is an adaptive test, . and the process of changing to a computer-only format is adaptive too,” Ewing said. ETS will be working on a num ber of changes and improvements during the two-year delay. The testing service wants to have 500 test centers in place before elimi nating the pencil-and-paper tests, Ewing said. ETS also is adding new types of questions to the GRE quantitative section and a writing portion to the test. But the top priority, Ewing said, is enlarging the question pool. That is not a simple task, he said. “ It’s very costly to create a giant pool of questions,” Ewing said. “The GRE is an adaptive test, and the process of changing to a computer-only format is adaptive too. ” ■ TOM EWING ETS spokesman A test like the SAT will cost about $ 150,000 per test form, and will take about 16 months work on each version, Ewing said. The work behind a computer test is similar, he said, except that because it is offered more frequently, the ques tion pool is more exposed to stu dents. “In other words, its shelf life is not quite as long,” Ewing said. “We have to come up with a lot more questions.” ETS also postponed changing the GRE’s individual subject tests to computer tests until 1999. Mecca said Kaplan felt com puterized testing was good, but it was going to take more time and money to make the tests secure. “But we want to see it sue-; ceed,” Mecca said. ^ Lincoln hosts holiday parties By Catherine Blalock Staff Reporter Like people all over the world, groups at UNL are celebrating Mardi Gras today and observing Ash Wednesday tomorrow. Tonight the Newman Center, the Catholic student center on campus, will hold a Mass at 9, followed by a Mardi Gras celebration. The Responsible Hospitality Council of Lincoln and Lincoln Coun cil on Alcoholism and Drugs Inc. will host a party tonight from 5 to 7 at The Comhusker Hotel. The UNL German Department also is celebrating the holidays with Rosenmontag, a holiday celebrated mainly in central and southern Ger many. Yesterday the club began its tradi tional celebration by cutting off ties, dressing up in costumes and passing out candy to students. Are you Tired, Of This? ,—Waiting ‘v^sfcor This? Residence Hall Association is Proud to Present: 1st Annual Suitcase Dance You could win a Trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California! Tickets aresold ir Food Services of each Hall be tween 5pm & 6pm. They're only $2, so get them while they're HOT! You could be Dn yur way to the Happiest 3lace on EarthIDance is Friday, March 3. Sale ends Wednesday Theyfer^ ‘ OMlkllLoppe do custom church and wedding candlesl Endless options‘Pascal candles‘Ever-lasting candles Bring us your original design and we'll make it for you! _ _10%off_candlesw/titis ad‘701P St Suite 201*435-7505 DWI bills debated in committee By Matthew Waite Senior Reporter ~ Senators on the Nebraska Legislature’s Transportation Com mittee advanced a bill on Monday that would toughen the “zero toler ance” law for minors cited for drink ing and driving. LB766, sponsored by Sen. Connie Day of Norfolk, would make it pos sible for police officers to cite minors for DWI without having charged them with another offense. Under the bill, a minor’s license would be impounded for 30 days if charged with a first-offense DWI. That impounding would appear on the minor’s driving record for 90 days. Under current law, an impounded license does not appear on Depart ment of Motor Vehicle records, and DWI for minors is a secondary of fense. Day said that if a minor’s insur ance came up for review in those 90 days, the offense would be on record. Mike Kelley of the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorney’s Asso ciation was the only person to testify against the bill. He said his group thought the zero tolerance law should remain a sec ondary offense to eliminate the pos sibility of police officers pulling over minors for no reason. The committee also amended, but took no action on, a bill that would give juvenile judges the ability to restrict and suspend minors’ drivers licenses as a form of punishment. A vote on LB595, sponsored by Sen. Ron Withem of Papillion, was delayed by committee members after questions about the language of the bill arose. Under LB595, a record of the li cense suspension would be kept with the DMV, making it accessible to law enforcement agencies. An amend ment offered by Withem and ap proved by the committee would make the records confidential. Under the old legislation, minors were to keep a copy of the court ordered suspension with them at all times. No record of the suspension was kept at the DMV, allowing mi nors to avoid further trouble, Withem said. These Lincoln Area Churches invite you to join them in worship this spring. College Fellowship that Centers on Jesus Christ Join us Sunday mornings at 9:30 for interesting Bible discussions and fellowship. We’re close lo the main campus and arc glad to provide transportation. Just give the church a call at 474-5659. Central is the ideal place to make Christian fellowship a part of your college experience. MEMBER, CHRISTIAN & MISSIONARY ALLIANCE 4 CLOSE TO CAMPUS / 2820 "O' STREET 474-5659 CENTRAL CHURCH || COLLEGE & CAREER LENT ’9f»n, ' ATTHE H LUTHERAN STUDENT CENTER (535 North 16th Street across from Neihardt HaH) ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES Wednesday night, March 1,1995 at 9:30 pm LENTEN WORSHIP SERVICES "Cross Examinations" &3C non. (Each Wednesday during Lent) Wednesday, March 1 9:00 PM Ash Wednesday Service CORNERSTONE-UMHE 640 North 16th Street All UNL Students & Staff Invited & Welcome! First-Plymouth 20th & D Si 476-7565 ^,U#/ «/30 Weekend Worship Services Saturdays 5:30 pm* Sundays 9 & 1030 am St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church Newman Center The Student Parish on Campus *16th&0* Sunday Mass Schedule 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m.t 5:30 p.m. Daily Mass Schedule M-Thure: 6:55 a.m., 10:00 p.m. Holy Thursday Liturgy Thurs., April 13:8:00 pjn. Confessions: Phone: 474-7914 M-Thurs: 9:30 pm; Sat. 4-4:30 pjn.; Sun. 5pjn. The Lenten and Easter Season at University Lutheran Chapel "The Body of Jesus" Pressing Toward The Goal By Going With Jesus To The Cross Wednesdays at 6:15PM (unless othwise noted) March 1st The FEET of Jesus to lead the way March 8tli The HANDS of Jesus to help and heal March 15th The MOLflil of Jesus to speak God’s W>rd March 22nd The EARS of Jesus to hear our prayers March 29th The EYES of Jesus to see our needs April 5th The HEART of Jesus beating with love April 13th MAUNDY THURSDAY (9:00PM) "The Last Supper" Dramatic Presentation April 14th GOOD FRIDAY (9:00PM) The WOUNDS of Jesus flowing with blood April 16th RESURRECTION MEGA CELEBRATION! Worship at 7:30AM & 11:00AM Easter Breakfast at 9:00AM University Lutheran Chapel 1510 Q Stxcet(N.W. comer of 16th & "Q"), 477-3997 A member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod