Proctor authentication younger students

[n2yoga]

Does anyone have tips for preparing a younger high school student for the authentication process? I've nearly failed it myself a couple times when I was asked about cities/addresses I lived in 15 years ago. I'm guessing I can't be in the room during authentication?

[dfrecore]

I don't think they always ask the same questions, and they can always say "I was 2, I have no idea." Then they would have to ask another question.

Also, the authentication questions normally come from your credit report (not directly, but there is obviously a database out there with the info because it's similar to what I have had to go through when authenticating my info for other things credit-related). So, your child may not have ANY info they can ask about, if they don't have a credit report (most people under 18 won't). I'm not sure what they do at that point, but I'm sure they come up with something else to ask about in that instance.

[n2yoga]

Thank you! Good to know you can ask for another question.

[dfrecore]

Thank you! Good to know you can ask for another question.

It's not that you need to ask for one, it's just that they will have to figure out a different means of authentication, other than using a credit report.

[Thorne]

I don't think they always ask the same questions, and they can always say "I was 2, I have no idea."  Then they would have to ask another question.

Also, the authentication questions normally come from your credit report (not directly, but there is obviously a database out there with the info because it's similar to what I have had to go through when authenticating my info for other things credit-related).  So, your child may not have ANY info they can ask about, if they don't have a credit report (most people under 18 won't).  I'm not sure what they do at that point, but I'm sure they come up with something else to ask about in that instance.

My grandfather, my father, and I all share (shared, I suppose, my grandfather recently passed) the same name, and I was asked about where my grandfather lived in 1984 and about the color of the car he owned in the '89. I wasn't born until the 90's, and my proctor wasn't amused at all when I said, "I apologize, but I wasn't alive in 1984, so I don't know the answer to any of these."

I had to reschedule because he was an incompetent oaf, and I try not to say that about people unless I am absolutely certain it is true.

[Gymfan15]

I've never failed authentication but they keep asking me what hospital is closest to my address and every time I'm like, idk. But they don't mind.

I wonder, if the person taking the test is a minor and doesn't have any info to pull from, if they'll just make you show a second form of ID.

[dfrecore]

I don't think they always ask the same questions, and they can always say "I was 2, I have no idea."  Then they would have to ask another question.

Also, the authentication questions normally come from your credit report (not directly, but there is obviously a database out there with the info because it's similar to what I have had to go through when authenticating my info for other things credit-related).  So, your child may not have ANY info they can ask about, if they don't have a credit report (most people under 18 won't).  I'm not sure what they do at that point, but I'm sure they come up with something else to ask about in that instance.

My grandfather, my father, and I all share (shared, I suppose, my grandfather recently passed) the same name, and I was asked about where my grandfather lived in 1984 and about the color of the car he owned in the '89. I wasn't born until the 90's, and my proctor wasn't amused at all when I said, "I apologize, but I wasn't alive in 1984, so I don't know the answer to any of these."

I had to reschedule because he was an incompetent oaf, and I try not to say that about people unless I am absolutely certain it is true.

I'm not certain I know the color of the car I drove in 1989 .  I went through a lot of crappy cars back then in my late teens/early 20's, it could be any number of cars I drove then.  Honestly, I don't have the faintest idea which one I was on then.  As a matter of fact, in 1989, I might have driven 3 different cars over the year.

I mean, I can't even definitively tell you the color of my husband's car now - I say it's gray, he says it's silver, I know the name is something not even remotely close to either of those (maybe pewter??).  But I'm not sure where that would be on any documentation?  So weird.

[n2yoga]

I am posting to follow up on our experience today. My daughter failed the authentication questions which were similar to the ones I usually get which are incorrect about our geographic location. She was asked to show a second ID. She used her passport and that was accepted.