Over 800 suspected of cheating on TOEIC English exam in Japan

 At least 803 people in Japan are believed to have cheated on an English proficiency test between May 2023 and June 2025, the test's administrator said Monday, adding it has notified the examinees of the nullification of their exam results and a five-year ban on retaking the test.

The findings by the Institute for International Business Communication come after Wang Li Kun, a Chinese graduate student at Kyoto University, was arrested for allegedly trying to take TOEIC -- the Test of English for International Communication -- using another person's ID in May.

The examinees in question are believed to have taken advantage of the exam system that uses applicants' addresses to allocate testing sites, as they used the same or similar addresses as written on Wang's application.

Wang has allegedly told police that he received a message in Chinese around last winter that he would be paid for sitting the exam. The widespread fraud is suspected to have been organized by a Chinese group.

The 27-year-old allegedly hid a microphone inside a face mask, apparently to share his answers with other test takers. Around 40 people applied to sit the May exam using the same address as Wang.

The suspect has already been indicted on suspicion of forging a private document for sitting exams on another occasion in Tokyo.

Source https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/56856

Comprehension

How many people are believed to have cheated on the TOEIC test in Japan?
What action did the test administrator take against the examinees?
Who is Wang Li Kun, and what is he accused of doing?
What method did Wang use to help others during the test?
How were testing sites assigned for the TOEIC exam?
What trick did the cheaters use regarding addresses?
How many people used the same address as Wang in the May exam?
What was hidden inside Wang’s face mask?
What kind of message did Wang receive last winter?
What crime has Wang already been indicted for?

Discussion

Why do you think some people cheat on language tests?
What should the punishment be for people caught chating?
How can test organizers prevent cheating in the future?
Have you ever taken a standardized test like TOEIC or TOEFL? What was your experience?
Do you think a five-year ban is fair? Why or why not?
How does cheating affect honest test-takers?
Do you think using microphones or fake IDs to cheat is common?
How can technology be used to stop exam fraud?
Why is English proficiency important for students and workers?
Should the test rules or format be changed to reduce cheating?

Vocabulary

Cheated – Acted dishonestly to gain an unfair advantage.
Proficiency – The ability to do something well, especially a skill or language.
Administrator – A person or organization that manages or organizes something.
Nullification – The act of making something invalid or canceled.
Ban – An official rule that stops someone from doing something.
Allegedly – Said to have happened, but not proven yet.
Forgery – Making a fake document or using someone else’s identity illegally.
Examinees – People who are taking a test.
Suspected – Believed to be involved in something wrong or illegal.
Indicted – Formally accused of a crime.