There have been many rumours of students cheating in their IELTS examinations. It has been reported that cheating in the test has more than doubled over the past five years. The companies that run both the IELTS and TOEFL examinations have had enough and are now training their staff to similar levels as the immigration service. In essence, the problem is people pretending to be the student sitting the test but officials are now thoroughly checking students’ identities.
A guy called Dave Allan is a director at a large UK university. He ensures the entire yearly intake of 500 international students re-sit a similar examination to the IELTS test when they arrive, so as to ensure the validity of the results they have reportedly achieved.
Dave’s take on it all is: “Most scores are reliable, but an increasing number are not because students seem to have cheated. About 10% have significantly different scores to the ones their certificates state. Despite all the security for these tests, we have had students come in with an IELTS score of eight when their ability reaches only a score of five.”
“I have said to students ‘how did you get this score?’,” Allan says. “Their response is to give me a sheepish look or to deny they cheated.”
In fact, the problem is worse than many had first thought. Students at Durham University have even been discovered with forged IETLS certificates. In fact, many high profile university admission’s officers have public stated their worry at the situation. In fact, the problem is so widespread that there are many posts and discussions on the Internet regarding the very matter.
It is not really surprising that students are going to the extreme lengths to cheat in their IELTS tests. UK universities often require a score of 6 at the very minimum, but the very best will require a minimum of 8 as standard. Even to pass new immigration rules and even to secure a part-time job to secure some pocket-money, IELTS is seen as imperative.
In this new, closer globalised world we live in there are record numbers of students taking the IELTS examination. 1 million students have sat the examination over the past year alone and China is a large driver of growth which has seen the number of IELTS examination double over three years – China’s demand for the tests is growing at a staggering 50% per year.
Perhaps the most worrying aspect of this sorry saga is that the exam boards refuse to face the issue. In fact, they flatly deny that there is any cheating at all. A director from the company which owns the TOEFL and TOEIC examinations is on record as saying that, “the number of cheats has not increased in recent years”. A similar story from the owners of the IELTS examination can be found, with their directors stating that new security measures have actually reduced the level of cheating!
UK universities have clearly had to act in order to protect themselves from the cheats, despite what the test owners may think. Universities have successfully argued for the right to expel students if they think they have cheated to gain entry. But in reality, do you think this really happens? Do you think the majority of universities really want to turn away all that revenue from internationals students? No, neither do we. They’ll probably offer the student more language courses. Obviously, if you are caught in the act of cheating, you’ll be in all manner of trouble. But perhaps it’s turning into a case of, “cheat and if you’re not found out, you’ll be given extra help”.
Hi everybody,
I hate the exams. I tried to take toefl, unfortunately i could not get enough score. Though I went to the states. I talked a lot of teacher from several universities, when i arrived there. I explained my background and purpose in English despite it’s bad. Some of them invited me to talked. And one of them decided to try me and we started to work in his lab. at his university. After awhile, he said to me that he will accept me to his department as research assistant with full scholarship as long as i satisfy the school’s language requirement that is min 80 if toefl ibt. unfortunately i could not succeed. During that time, i worked his lab for abbot 1 year, i used to attend meeting every week to discuss progresses of tasks, and i published one academic paper which has my name on it as well in a int’ conference. Finally, i could not resist that situation. i had to leave and leaved.
There is some problem about English exams for me. the rules are okay but they should not be everything. There should be different measurements to gain acceptance. Or cheating should be ignorable. After so many trouble every way could be seem as a way which will rescue us from this trouble.
I know some peoples who has high score from the exams, but are not able to talk or understand things are spoken. It’s very big handicap for me. Also some people just study repetitively questions of the exams, they memorize almost all questions. When they get the exams, they see almost same questions or same template of questions for writing.
it’s my point of view.
i hate the exams…
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There is NO doubt that cheating does take place.
I have students who purport to have IELTS 5.5. and a high TOELF score.
They cannot understand, speak or write English.
Forged certificates, bribed examiners or incomptent marking must be somewhere in the picture.
Happily the UKBA is at last addressing this issue – they will be introducing a SECURE TEST this summer and HOPEFULLY it will be at an IELTS 6 standard for ALL student admissions.
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The answer, I’m sure, is biometrics for the tests too. However, that raises the obvious questions of cost, responsibility with personal data and privacy.
Thinking more about it, I wonder what systems will be put in place by the UK Border Agency for their testing system that will make it so much better? It is so hard to verify identity reliably if someone is 5,000 miles away.
However, what the industry is now seeing are stricter operating guidelines from education providers for their agents. Face-to-face interviews, at an agent’s premises, as well as Skype video interviews with the sponsor to check identity and English level, are the standard.
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I really enjoy the information on this blog.
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Some students cheating in IELTS test because some students are week in english like me. I got 5.5 band in secound time now iam trying to get 7 band thats min requirement so i dont know wt can i do.
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Why should one have to take a calculator in IELTS exam whlist it doen’t require any math!!!??
Anyway I have no idea how they cheat in IELTS exam whereas the examinee isn’t allowed to even carry his moblie phone!!
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not comm.
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i used to see sombody cheating like this. lol
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They should not let students carry any electronic gear except a simple calculator in any exam. Problem solved.
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