Hard lesson for student exam cheats

By REBECCA WALSH

Four secondary school students have had all their exam results cancelled after two cases of impersonation were uncovered during last year's exams.

A further 18 students have had their results cancelled in one subject for cheating or taking notes into the exam.

Examinations manager Michael Steer said the Qualifications Authority had investigated 68 cases involving 71 candidates.

Twenty-seven cases went to a formal hearing. Those included 14 incidents of cheating in School Certificate, nine in University Bursary and four in tertiary exams.

Last year there were 28 cases.

Mr Steer said four cases involved candidates using a banned calculator.

Another case involved tampering with an exam admission slip.

The authority was still investigating four cases where students had submitted their answer booklets for reconsideration and they appeared to have been altered or their answers added to.

Mr Steer said the rate of offending was low considering that 100,000 students were involved in school and trade exams or assessment.