Thousands take SAT test in Hong Kong despite claims of cheating; Macau and mainland sittings cancelled
Thousands in Hong Kong sit university exam after its US organiser scraps it on the mainland and Macau in light of reported cheating
Thousands of school students sat their SAT exam in Hong Kong yesterday as exam organisers launched a probe into cheating and pledged to boost security after mainland and Macau sittings were cancelled after details of the exam paper were leaked.
The not-for-profit organisation who run the Scholastic Assessment Test – taken by students applying for universities in the United States – said the integrity of the exam was under “consistent” attack by unscrupulous individuals.
A spokesman for the New York-based, College Board, did not explain in what form and to whom the paper was leaked for fear of aiding future potential cheats.
READ MORE: College entrance SAT exams cancelled in China and Macau after test leaks out
It is also not clear if students taking the exam in Hong Kong – the majority of whom are from the mainland – sit the same paper as those who sit the test in there and Macau.
College Board’s senior director of media relations Zach Goldberg said: “We recognise that organisations and individuals will consistently try to challenge the system and find a new way to cheat, which is why we continue to enhance our test security measures.
“We are confronting organisations and individuals attempting to illegally obtain and share test materials for their own profit, to the ultimate detriment of students.”
The board was determined to combat cheating and protect the integrity of the SAT, he said.
“There are many ways that organisations and students try to steal and profit from standardised testing. We have taken a number of actions in partnership with our members to identify and mitigate against those multiple risks.”