Phone in the Restroom During the E-6 Exam
At 1015 during the E-6 exam, a proctor sees a second-class petty officer leave the restroom with a cell phone in his hand. The candidate is taking the E-6 exam and has completed 60 of 100 questions. Exam instructions required all phones to be surrendered at the door; this candidate turned in one phone but kept a second. When questioned quietly in the hallway, the candidate says he was checking the time because the wall clock was removed. The phone screen is locked. The proctor has not seen the candidate photograph or read anything, and 29 other candidates are still testing. The ESO must decide whether the candidate may finish the exam, what to do with the phone, and what to report.
1. What should the proctor do immediately when the phone is seen, and should the candidate continue the exam?
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The proctor should quietly secure the phone, escort the candidate away from the testing room, and prevent further access to the phone or exam material. The candidate should not be allowed to keep the phone, unlock it, or return to the room until the proctor has control of the situation. Because 29 other candidates are still testing, a public confrontation would disrupt the exam and risk alerting others. The proctor should notify the ESO, document the time and observations, and decide whether the candidate can continue based on whether the candidate is cooperative and whether there is any indication the exam was compromised. If the candidate continues, the proctor should monitor closely and annotate the answer sheet according to NAC guidance. The phone should be preserved, not searched beyond what is needed to secure it.
2. What documentation and notifications are required after the exam?
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Document the observed facts, not conclusions: the time, location, what was seen, the candidate's statement, the phone's condition, witnesses, and the seating chart. Note that the candidate turned in one phone at the door and retained a second, and record whether the screen was locked. The ESO should notify the CO/XO and the Navy Advancement Center, secure the phone and any written statements, and keep the answer sheet in the normal chain of custody. The ESO should not unlock or browse the phone, delete anything, or promise the candidate a result. Because exam validity is adjudicated by the NAC, the command should provide the evidence and let the exam-control authority decide whether the score is valid.
3. What should the ESO tell the candidate and the other candidates?
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Tell the candidate only what is necessary: the phone was prohibited, it has been secured, a report will be made, and the candidate should provide a written statement after the exam. Do not accuse the candidate of cheating or discuss possible penalties. Tell the other candidates nothing about the phone; a general reminder about exam rules is enough. Because rumors can undermine confidence in the exam, the ESO should keep the matter confidential and refer questions to the chain of command. The candidate should be allowed to complete the administrative statement without pressure, and the ESO should document that the candidate was informed of the phone policy before the exam.