Frode nei test online: l'università ripete 58.000 esami di ammissione

The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has ordered approximately 58,000 prospective students to retake their entrance exams in person after detecting unusually high scores during a fully digital assessment conducted earlier this year. The decision follows recommendations from an investigation commission that identified widespread cheating attempts. The university, which is the largest in the country, claims that nearly half of the roughly 160,000 exams taken were likely fraudulent, with over 2 percent already invalidated due to rule violations. Between 2021 and 2025, only about 3.5 percent of test-takers scored 100 or more points out of a possible 120. However, during the summer of 2026, the proportion of candidates achieving such high scores jumped sharply to 16.3 percent. Among those scoring above 110 points, the percentage increased even further, reaching more than six times the previous average, up from 0.9 percent to 5.5 percent. According to the university’s newspaper, Gaceta UNAM, these results prompted the establishment of an investigative committee, which concluded that fraud was rampant among the majority of participants. To monitor the digital exam, UNAM used the LockDown Browser software along with AI-powered webcam surveillance. This tool prevents users from copying text, minimizing windows, or accessing other websites or applications. Human supervisors also monitored candidates' video feeds using AI assistance. Despite these measures, reports indicate that cheating methods had been circulating before the exam began. Instructions circulated online suggested using secondary monitors for AI tools outside the camera's view or hiding in-ear headphones beneath hair. Additionally, some test questions were reportedly sold online during the 19-day examination window. In response to potential fraud, the university leadership filed criminal complaints prior to the release of the investigation findings. These actions suggest that authorities were aware of the issue long before making public statements. The current requirement for in-person retakes affects both those who had already been provisionally accepted and those who narrowly missed qualifying based on distorted results. Rektor Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas apologized to the applicants for the added burden, calling the measure necessary to ensure fairness in admissions. The university also announced plans to delay the start of the academic semester from October 10 to August 31, citing the need to organize the large-scale in-person examinations. This shift will require extensive logistical planning, including scheduling, venue setup, and security arrangements. The move underscores the scale of the challenge facing UNAM as it seeks to uphold academic integrity amid growing concerns over digital testing vulnerabilities. The situation highlights broader issues surrounding the reliability of online assessments, particularly in high-stakes environments such as university admissions. While technological safeguards have improved significantly, they remain vulnerable to sophisticated cheating techniques. As universities worldwide increasingly rely on digital platforms for evaluations, the case of UNAM serves as a cautionary example of how easily such systems can be exploited. The ongoing efforts to address this problem reflect a wider trend toward stricter oversight and enhanced monitoring mechanisms in educational institutions.