Chinese Student at Kyoto University Arrested for Proxy TOEIC Exam
About 30% Left After Detection... Suspicion of Organized Cheating in TOEIC
A Chinese international student enrolled in a prestigious graduate school in Japan was caught taking the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication) exam on behalf of someone else.
According to recent reports from Japanese outlets such as TBS News, Wang Likun, a 27-year-old Chinese national and second-year graduate student at Kyoto University, was arrested at a TOEIC test site in Itabashi Ward, Tokyo, on charges including inducement and forgery of private documents, and has been handed over to the prosecution.
He is accused of attempting to take the TOEIC exam on May 18 using an admission ticket issued under another person's name.
According to Japanese police, the TOEIC testing organization reported to the authorities that "one individual has been repeatedly taking the exam under different names" and "Chinese test-takers have been recording unusually high scores above 900 points."
Police arrested Wang at the test site where he was scheduled to take the exam, apprehending him in the act.
During the police investigation, a small microphone measuring 3 to 4 centimeters was found inside the mask Wang was wearing. It is suspected that he took the exam first and then shared the answers with accomplices. Police noted that about 30% of the registered test-takers abandoned the exam and left the site that day, and are expanding their investigation on the suspicion that organized cheating may have taken place.
Wang reportedly admitted to the charges, stating, "I did it because I heard I could get paid for taking the English exam on someone else's behalf."
Meanwhile, in Japan, it is known that foreign companies require job applicants to have a TOEIC score of at least 800 points. As a result, illegal websites offering proxy test-taking services in exchange for money have become widespread.
According to TV Asahi in Japan, an operator of a proxy test-taking service said, "A score of 900 on the TOEIC costs about 1.18 million yen (approximately 1.14 million won). We take care of ID verification. The score is guaranteed," adding, "Japan is the easiest place to take the TOEIC on behalf of someone else. The service is limited to Japan."
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