In a time where entry to higher education is highly competitive, students are feeling an increasing sense of pressure to ace their exams. This is particularly prevalent in areas like the United States, where succeeding on the SAT College Admission Exam is pivotal to gaining admission to an institution. While there have always been issues with cheating on this exam, allegations are spreading to include international students aiming to attend university in the US.

Results from the October 11 SAT test in China and South Korea are being held due to allegations of cheating. According to at least six different counsellors and students, various test prep centres across South Korea and other parts of Asia have reportedly obtained material and questions from the impending January 24 examination and provided them to their student clients. This connects to security breaches reported by the College Board and Educational Testing Service that took place over the course of several months last autumn. In May 2013, the SAT and SAT Subject Tests were cancelled in South Korea due to leaked questions. This follows the voiding of 900 scores in May 2007. The College Board has been known to recycle past exams delivered in the US in other countries. Audiences abroad have caught on and learn which exam will be recycled when then study for the specific exam learning answers ahead of time. Agents and students are also using time difference to their advantage sharing answers from countries in time zones ahead with students taking the exam hours later. Methods for transmitting test materials range from loading material to calculators, to emailing correct answer lists to cell phones, to test prep firms having people sit in on exams and memorize questions.

While the SAT test faces many issues and a need for widespread reform, countries that do not require the exam benefit from focusing on other academic achievements for admission. The UK, because of its emphasis on exams such as AP, IB and SAT subject tests can more easily admit students without worry of fraud on the SAT.

For more information, click here for an article from The Washington Post.