Due to COVID-19, universities worldwide have been conducting online classes for some time. As final exam season arrives, exams are largely being taken online from home.
Major standardized tests such as GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, and IELTS have also gradually introduced at-home online testing after closing their physical test centers.
However, while the internet provides convenience, it also offers opportunities for some to exploit. During this exceptional period, some students are taking the risk of using proxy exam services and ghostwriting to complete their coursework and tests.
A mature "black market" industry
In fact, services offering to take exams or write assignments on behalf of others are already all too familiar. They can be seen advertised across various social media platforms and even in personal email inboxes.
This "black market" industry has developed quite maturely online.
Besides proxy services for university courses, cheating has long existed even in international standardized tests.
With the recent shift to at-home testing during this special period, cheating syndicates have seized the "business opportunity," launching aggressive, blanket advertising campaigns.
Should you drink this poison of proxy exam/writing services?
The proxy service industry seems to offer "convenience" to many students, but those who use these services seldom consider the consequences they face if caught.
At the university level, once a violation is discovered, students may face penalties ranging from a warning to outright expulsion. Furthermore, these proxy services are often far less reliable than their advertisements claim.
Instances abound of students being passed off with someone else's essay, being caught red-handed by professors, or having the proxy scorer perform even worse than they would have—leaving students scammed and out of pocket, with countless cautionary tales of losses outweighing gains.
Moreover, if U.S. government agencies get involved, the consequences can be disastrous. In a past SAT fraud case in the U.S., six Chinese students were charged with passport fraud, mail fraud, and conspiracy; they pleaded guilty and were deported, their bright futures destroyed by a single misstep.
Regarding standardized tests, take the GRE for example: if there is a significant discrepancy between scores from two attempts, ETS will reasonably suspect cheating and cancel the scores.
Furthermore, cheating on international standardized tests can have repercussions that harm innocent parties.
Do you recall the news from a few years ago, when SAT test centers in Asia were repeatedly hit by question leaks and cheating, causing score release delays or cancellations for all test-takers at those centers?
December 2012
SAT scores from some test centers in Hong Kong and Macau were canceled after a two-and-a-half-month delay.
January and May 2013
SAT scores from some test centers in South Korea were canceled. In May of that year, the College Board emailed test-takers in Korea notifying them that the upcoming SAT administration in Korea would be canceled.
October 2019
SAT scores from Hong Kong test centers were delayed, impacting the U.S. college applications of tens of thousands of Chinese students.
And this year, just days before the College Board launched its first remote AP exams, allegations of student cheating had already risen notably.
A senior CB program official stated on Twitter that they "have canceled the registrations of some students planning to cheat and are investigating other potential cheating cases."
It is not difficult to imagine what measures ETS, with its experience auditing SAT tests, might take once it discovers large-scale cheating on other standardized tests like GRE or GMAT.
At the least, the cheating individual's scores will be canceled; at worst, the scores and application timelines of all test-takers during that period could be affected.
Your single reckless act could cause countless Chinese test-takers to suffer collateral damage, jeopardizing not only their scores and applications but also the reputation of international students that has been carefully maintained.
Final thoughts
We emphasize again the following risks regarding proxy exams and ghostwriting:
Risk 1
Universities maintain a near-zero-tolerance policy toward proxy exam/assignment services. Once detected, a serious record will be placed on your transcript, and severe cases may result in expulsion.
Risk 2
History shows that cheating on standardized tests can lead to widespread score delays or cancellations. If this happens, it will harm not only yourself but also a cohort of innocent test-takers.
Risk 3
If information about proxy cheating leaks, U.S. government agencies may step in and impose harsh penalties for exam fraud. Students could face imprisonment, fines, deportation, and other severe consequences.
Recently, U.S. universities and testing organizations have been rigorously investigating proxy exam and ghostwriting activities. To those considering such services, we simply say:
Absolutely do not do this!
In U.S. college courses, a single exam is not the sole basis for grading, nor will admissions officers judge your four years of study by one course.
Similarly, standardized tests can be retaken, and you can allocate ample time to plan and prepare.
If you encounter difficulties during class or exam preparation, the first step should be to seek help from classmates, communicate more with professors, and do your best to complete your studies and exams honestly.
Do not resort to cheating through proxy services to deceive yourself and obtain grades. Once caught, you will have thrown away your future—the losses far outweigh the gains.
In these unusual times, the testing options provided by schools and testing organizations are meant to help students navigate this difficult period, not to serve as an excuse for dishonest plans.
Approaching our studies and exams with integrity, and being honest, is all the more important during this period.
