Cheating in Examinations Gets Hi-Tech

High-tech cheating has no doubt increased considerable and the proof that 4,400 people were caught cheating at the A-levels of GCES examinations last year, in Northern Ireland, Wales and England. At Oqfal, the figures themselves speak about the increase in the number of candidates cheating using high- tech methods, an average rise of six percent. According to the invigilators and the officials, the candidates seek modern technology, which includes the use of cellular phone and other modern gadgets to cheat in the examinations.

To ensure that candidates are not able to use such high-tech gadgets in their examinations schools are equipping their rooms with scanners and other such tracing devices that will help them to find if any such devices are in use during an examination. However, this is just one side of the story of organizations making a living by selling hi-tech scanning devices. The other side of the story is that candidates too are lured by various websites into buying electronic gadgets that the websites promise will help them cheat and that they are untraceable by the modern scanners.

One of the biggest problems for invigilators is that with cellular phones getting more and more advanced and even the cheapest cellular phone today now providing internet access it is very difficult to check all forms of cheating. Thus, nowadays, examination centers do not allow students the use of cellular phones during the examinations and you will find warning posters requesting the students to switch off their mobile phones during an examination or else of they are found with one then their examination might get cancelled.

Other forms of electronic equipments too are banned nowadays as they too either provide internet access or they have enough storage and display features that might help a student to cheat. Wireless headsets, hidden earpieces, and other such devices have become the source for the candidates whereas the invigilators have to depend mainly on CCTV footages, scanners and mainly on the age-old method, instinct.