[Reading Science] How to Detect Cheating in Identical Twin Proxy Exams?

This is a photo of two identical twins. Assuming one of them takes an exam on behalf of the other, what is the probability that it will be revealed that they are not the actual person?
Photo by YouTube Screenshot

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jonghwa] Can you properly distinguish between identical twins? Twins are born on the same day, almost at the same time, and look very similar. However, it is accurate to say that identical twins look exactly the same, beyond just being similar. It is often difficult to tell them apart unless you are their parent.

Imagine that as these identical twins grow up, their strengths differ: one excels academically, while the other is very good at sports. Those who are well aware of these differences might try to compensate for each other's weaknesses through unfair means. For example, taking exams on behalf of the other to achieve good grades. Could they succeed?

Although morally unacceptable, if the siblings are very close, it might not be impossible. As long as they don't take exams on the same day, it could be feasible. Even though twins are the same age, if one graduates early due to academic excellence or deliberately delays graduation to retake a year, the possibility of proxy testing increases.

Assuming the surrounding conditions for proxy testing are met, how likely is it that such cheating would be detected? Unless the exam proctor has prior information and is determined to uncover the truth, detection is difficult.

Last year, there was a report from China about a younger sister who was caught by an exam proctor while trying to take a driver's license test on behalf of her older sister. According to a Chinese media outlet, in August last year, a person named A living in Kashi, Xinjiang region, entered the test center to take the driver's license test twice on behalf of her older sister who had failed, but was caught by the proctor and asked to leave.

The proctor noticed A's overly nervous behavior and requested identification. Comparing the ID with A's face, the proctor noticed a mole on the neck in the ID photo that A did not have, leading to questioning and A's confession. In this case, it was A's mistake and the proctor's sharp intuition that prevented cheating, not scientific detection. If A had been less nervous, the chance of being caught would have been low.

What about South Korea? In the early 2000s, identical twins caught taking proxy tests for the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT) were reported, and there have also been cases of twin brothers caught during driver's license tests. Even in cases without twins, proxy test cheating has been detected quite often.

As of the end of last year, the number of births in South Korea was 326,822, with twins accounting for about 3.9% (as of the end of 2017). Among twins, about 30% are identical twins. This means approximately 12,750 twins are born annually, and among them, about 3,800 are identical twins who look so alike that distinguishing their appearance is difficult.

It can be estimated that about 3,800 identical twins take the CSAT every year. Besides this, there are numerous other professional qualification exams, civil service exams, bar exams, TOEIC, driver's license tests, and many more. If twins take proxy tests in these exams, can they be detected?

Above the name section on the CSAT answer sheet, there is a "Handwriting Verification Box." However, it is not very effective. Handwriting is only checked if there is a dispute later, not as a mandatory verification.
[Photo by YouTube screen capture]

In exams like the CSAT or bar exams, exam admission tickets and IDs are compared with the candidate's face. While exam proctors can check more thoroughly depending on the individual, there is no scientific method to distinguish if the test-taker is someone else.

Identical twins have different fingerprints, irises, and handwriting. For this reason, the CSAT answer sheets include a 'handwriting verification section' where candidates must write a sentence by hand. However, handwriting verification is only conducted if issues arise, so in practice, the only way to detect proxy testing at the exam site is the proctor's 'hawk eye.'

Perhaps this is why various internet communities have posts like, "My friend said he'll take his brother's exam again next year," or "I know someone whose older daughter, who studies well, takes exams on behalf of her younger daughter who is not good at studying, so the younger one gets scholarships and good grades every year and gets a good job and lives well." Although fact-checking is impossible, many confess to having heard or seen such things, making it hard to dismiss entirely.

Some even point out, "For exams like the CSAT, bar exams, and civil service exams, no one would risk cheating because getting caught ruins your life, but for other exams like TOEIC, proxy testing is 95% possible." The remaining 5% depends on the individual's nervousness.

With scientific advances, plastic surgery and makeup techniques have also improved. Would it be excessive administration to equip exam centers with fingerprint scanners or iris recognition devices to prevent cheating by identical twins? It's a difficult issue. On the other hand, if candidates have the basic conscience that cheating is wrong, there would be no problem. Perhaps it is just one bad apple that spoils the clear water.