SAT abroad ... The rewarding of the cheats continue

<p>China,and Korea may cheat,but I am very glad that this cheating stuffs on SAT does not happen in my country which is Bangladesh. To be honest I didn’t even knew that people actually does cheat on SAT!!! so reading this thread really kinda hurt me. Because I am honest,the people close to me who went abroad they were honest and worked hard to get what they got so seeing this thread was like what!!! Because of some stupid cheaters why should honest students be doubted. that was my point:(</p>

<p>Amy, don’t worry too much. Many top universities (the ones those people cheat for) are prepared to deal with cheating, and there are definitely some red flags, like high SAT scores and poor language/interview skills, low score on the TOEFL, poor GPA, fake transcripts (unfortunately common in China), etc. It is unlikely that an honest international applicant will be seriously suspected of cheating, but if they were investigated, their innocence would likely come to light.</p>

<p>Schools like MIT, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, etc. are really good at weeding out cheaters, and most cheating int’l students aim for those types of schools. Not sure about lower-tier schools. But there are definitely warning signs. Nobody will assume that you cheat because you’re international. :)</p>

<p>luisarose, thanks for your comment, it is a relief to know that our honesty is regarded:)</p>

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<p>That is an interesting technical solution, Xiggi, but how would it fare politically if one quarter of the students in Korea, for example, were to be told that their test results were invalidated? Invalidating an entire country’s results as a group would likely result in less outcry than individual invalidations in a country where saving face is important.</p>

<p>This link was posted on another CC thread:
[SAT</a> Centers in India which allow without passport? - Yahoo! Answers India](<a href=“Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos”>Yahoo | Mail, Weather, Search, Politics, News, Finance, Sports & Videos)</p>

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<p>Test security appears to be unevenly administered</p>

<p>If it became known that this month’s US SAT test would be last year’s version as used in China, then US students would ‘cheat’ by accessing it and studying it. They would be foolish not to. If the College Board recycles tests, then of course this will happen. </p>

<p>Of course, fake ID, impersonation, etc. is unacceptable - perhaps the cost of the test has to increased enough that good security can be paid for.</p>

<p>The repetitive recycling of the test is indeed out of control. But let not be naive about the extent of the organized and CONDONED cheating in Asia. Organizations are arranging for the leak of parts of the tests if not entire tests by bribing or plain stealing. </p>

<p>To curb the rampant abuses, a combined effort will be needed with TCB drastically changing the tests and the colleges ONLY accepting the scores AND applications on a probationary basis. As it stands, the applications from a number of Asian countries are a complete travesty.</p>

<p>It is important to remember that cheating can be perceived in a number of different ways. One issue that does not seem to have been considered is whether or not the use of performance enhancing drugs such as ritalin or adderall during an exam, particularly without a prescription, should be considered as egregious as knowing some of the questions in advance?</p>

<p>In East Asian countries like Korea and Japan these drugs are considered to be purely drugs of abuse and no one is allowed to have them for any reason. It would be essentially impossible for an East Asian student to obtain these drugs no matter how rich or well connected they are. In contrast, in the US these drugs are controlled substances but it appears just about any American test taker can get access to them and their use on the SATs in the US is reportedly extensive.</p>

<p>Some Korean students may know some of the questions on the SAT in advance but the number probably pales in comparison to the number of American test takers who are using hefty doses of potent academic performance enhancing drugs.</p>

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<p>I don’t know much about these drugs, but it seems to me that either you have the knowledge in your head or you don’t. Aside from having a cup of coffee to keep you from dozing off during the test, I don’t see how taking a drug could help you score better. What am I missing?</p>

<p>What you are missing is that these drugs are powerfull dopamine and norepiniphren re-uptake inhibitors which greatly increases the concentration of these neurotransmitters between the nerve synapses in the areas of the brain most involved in cognitive functioning. The result is much faster mental processing time, greater ability to concentrate on a problem and to be able to focus without distraction. The SAT is not so much a test of knowledge of previously learned information as it is a test of cognitive functioning.</p>

<p>There is no comparison between the mild stimulation from a cup of coffee and the far greater ability to focus, reason and work through a complicated problem quickly and accurately that can be obtained from drugs like ritalin and adderal.</p>

<p>Lemaitre, I can see that these drugs might be of help to someone whose brain chemistry is a little bit off, in the same way that wearing glasses would be a help to someone who has poor vision. But I don’t see how these drugs could be seen as miracle drugs, akin to the one seen in the movie Limitless, in the general population. And removing a handicap is hardly the same as cheating.</p>

<p>Interesting article in The Telegraph about a riot in China when exam enforcement was taken seriously:
[Riot</a> after Chinese teachers try to stop pupils cheating - Telegraph](<a href=“Riot after Chinese teachers try to stop pupils cheating”>Riot after Chinese teachers try to stop pupils cheating)</p>

<p>Wow. That is an interesting article. Thanks for posting.</p>

<p>Is there an equivalent to the Onion in China? Maybe the Mandarine?</p>

<p>Unfortunately, it would be less funny if it was not so true.</p>

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<p>And some say cheating ain’t rampant.</p>

<p>The Telegraph article neglects to mention that the top universities in China have set-aside quotas and lower gaokao score requirements for urban kids. The rural folk are indeed deliberately discriminated against for university admission & other policies. But hey, if you are a gov’t official in the city and your family is getting the spoils, then why rock the boat. It must thoroughly suck to be a rural Chinese.</p>

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<p>This is the oppposite of the truth. There is a lower score requirement for rural kids, ethnic minorities, etc., NOT for urban kids.</p>

<p>@sorghum, your comment is the first time I’ve ever heard that rural kids in China have a lower bar to jump to get into the top universities in China. </p>

<p>This is one of MANY articles I’ve read about how rural kids get discriminated against:
<a href=“http://m.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/06/chinas-unfair-college-admissions-system/276995/[/url]”>China's Unfair College Admissions System - The Atlantic;

<p>Another article on the subject:</p>

<p><a href=“Burden of China’s College Entrance Test Sets Off Wide Debate - The New York Times”>Burden of China’s College Entrance Test Sets Off Wide Debate - The New York Times;

<p>The Gaokao test system is a nightmare. College admissions are based on a single test, combine with quota’s, limited college slots (over 20% will not be admitted college due to lack of space) and rampart cheating…ugh.</p>