Entrance exam cheats go hi-tech

Yesterday during the second round of testing, an examinee was caught with a calculator that was equipped with a chip that allowed him to look up mathematical equations. At first glance, the calculator appeared normal.

The cheat was discovered at Ha Noi University. Administrators expelled him from the test room and he was handed over to police for further investigation.

During the two-day examination, which ended yesterday, 56 students were expelled for bringing cell phones into the test room in violation of regulations.

The University Entrance Exam Control Committee reported yesterday that a total of 203 examinees were found violating test regulations during the second round of exams, a much higher number than the first round last week which saw 80 reported violations.

Representatives from the committee said the soaring number of students cheating or planning to cheat was due to the greater variety of subjects on the test which required memorisation. Subjects in the second round included history, geography, literature and foreign languages.

Calculation tests such as mathematics, physics and chemistry were covered in the first round.

Two proctors were also found violating regulations over the weekend. One was asked to leave the testing room while the other was warned but allowed to continue as a proctor.

University exams were divided into two, and possibly three, rounds depending on university speciality. For example, students who want to study at a technology university tested in the first round while students who want to go to a foreign language teaching university attended the second round.

One hundred and ten universities participated in this year's second round exams which were held at 905 separate locations. About 630,000 students sat for the exams, a 2 per cent increase over last year.

The exam committee reported that all of the exam questions had remained secure prior to the test at all of the examination sites. — VNS