Latest news with #TestofEnglishforInternationalCommunication
Asahi Shimbun
4 days ago
- Asahi Shimbun
TOEIC records nulled for 803 over ties to cheating group
A Chinese graduate student is believed to have been hired to help others cheat at this venue in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward on May 18 for the TOEIC English proficiency test. (Noriki Nishioka) Organizers of the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) have invalidated the exam records of 803 individuals who are believed to have cheated through a hired imposter. The Institute for International Business Communication will also disqualify those individuals from taking a TOEIC for five years, officials said July 7. Wang Likun, a Chinese graduate student at Kyoto University, was arrested in May on suspicion of trespassing at a TOEIC exam venue in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward by impersonating a test-taker. The Metropolitan Police Department believes Wang was expected to mumble out the correct answers to other test-takers engaged in cheating. The 803 individuals applied for TOEIC using the same or near-identical address as Wang's since May 2023, according to the organizers. TOEIC exam venues are assigned based on test-takers' addresses. Applicants from the same neighborhood sit for the test at the same place. The institute also said it ensures that test-takers have turned off their cellphones before the exam to prevent cheating. Wang, 27, was hiding a small microphone with an antenna in his mask and wearing a pair of smart glasses with camera functions when he was arrested in May. He was rearrested twice on suspicion of forging admission tickets to enter other TOEIC exam venues in Tokyo in February and March. The suspect has refused to discuss the cases, according to investigative sources. Wang initially told police that he received a message in Chinese around winter 2024 and was told he would be paid if he took the test. The MPD believes others have provided correct exam answers in similar arrangements. After Wang's arrest, police found that 77 Chinese nationals who were scheduled to take TOEIC at a venue in Tokyo's Nerima Ward on June 7 used the same address in their applications. Also, 18 people who were to sit for the exam at a venue in Tokyo's Minato Ward on June 22 used the same address. Six of those test-takers told police that they were trying to cheat on TOEIC. One admitted to applying for a fraudulent arrangement through social media and paying 50,000 yen ($340). The MPD suspects that masterminds in China are leading an organized cheating scheme.
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- The Mainichi
Over 800 suspected of cheating on TOEIC English exam in Japan
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- 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.
The Mainichi
5 days ago
- General
- The Mainichi
English test cheating and photo-only weddings: Our 5 most-read stories from last week
We've listed our five most read stories on The Mainichi news site, from top to bottom, that were published between June 28 and July 6. The first story was viewed by 19.1% of our regular readers. (The Mainichi) Social inequality in China may be behind English test proxy cases in Japan TOKYO -- A slew of suspected cheating cases have been uncovered in the Test of English for International Communication, known commonly as TOEIC, held in Japan. A Chinese student has been arrested over his alleged involvement, and is suspected to have acted as part of an exam cheating ring. A closer look into these cases reveals circumstances unique to China. Full story. Edging Toward Japan: Japan's greatest gift to the world may yet be Mister Donut By Damian Flanagan Whenever I am in Britain, I generally attempt to steer clear of any conversation about Japan as this will often take the form of someone innocently remarking how very "strange" and "alien" Japanese culture must be and how intense must be the culture shock for a British person, presumably hoping that I will respond with a long list of extravagantly weird things. Full story. New Japanese citizen in int'l marriage confronts single-surname rule for married couples FUKUOKA -- A man who acquired Japanese nationality two years ago has reflected on the Japanese system requiring married Japanese couples to share a single surname -- following years in an international marriage in which he and his wife retained separate surnames. Full story. South Korean-style photo-only weddings gain popularity in Japan TOKYO -- "Instagrammable" South Korean-style photo-only weddings are gaining popularity in Japan amid the trend of young couples moving away from lavish ceremonies and receptions. Full story. 2 women thanked by Tokyo Fire Dept. for saving life of teen in cardiac arrest on train Airu Shiozaki, second from left in front row, and Megumi Saiki, third from left in front row, who received the fire commissioner award for saving a teenager who collapsed on a train, are seen in Tokyo's Meguro Ward, June 29, 2025. (Mainichi/Yuka Asahina) Full story.
The Mainichi
29-06-2025
- The Mainichi
Social inequality in China may be behind English test proxy cases in Japan
TOKYO -- A slew of suspected cheating cases have been uncovered in the Test of English for International Communication, known commonly as TOEIC, held in Japan. A Chinese student has been arrested over his alleged involvement, and is suspected to have acted as part of an exam cheating ring. A closer look into these cases reveals circumstances unique to China. "We have a perfect test proxy group." This is one of the ad copies on Chinese-language websites promising high TOEIC scores by hiring proxy test-takers. Some claim they will refund the fees if the scores are not met as promised. Detailed information, including prices and process, is not available on the website. A potential customer must scan a 2D code to access a messaging app, exchange messages individually with a representative, and then proceed to make a formal request. There were also ads for similar cheating tactics for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). About $8,000 to hire proxy test-taker; training session offered In June, one Chinese woman in her 20s accessed one of the similar sites out of curiosity and exchanged messages with their representative through the Chinese messaging app WeChat. The representative presented two methods and pricing for taking the TOEIC: "Test proxy costs 59,000 yuan (about $8,200) and the earphone method is 29,000 yuan ($4,000)." Proxy refers to someone impersonating the client taking the test, while the earphone method involves the client going to the test site themselves, wearing a device in their ear, and receiving answers via audio from another person solving the test questions elsewhere at the site. Because this method requires the client to physically attend the exam site, it is considered burdensome and risky, and the representative told her that there was a preliminary "training session." In both cases, exam venues were located in Japan. Clients are instructed to pay half of the service fee upfront and the remainder after the results are released. The Chinese woman said she exchanged dozens of messages with the representative, but ultimately stopped communicating due to the fraudulent nature of the method. Coordinated operation involving Chinese nationals? The cheating techniques the woman was introduced to resemble those uncovered in a Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) investigation into proxy test-taking and cheating schemes allegedly involving Chinese nationals. In May, the MPD arrested Wang Likun, a 27-year-old graduate student at Kyoto University, on the spot for suspected unlawful entry into a TOEIC testing venue in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward, using someone else's ID. The MPD had been investigating after receiving reports by the TOEIC operator in May that they "found a test-taker muttering in Chinese during the exam." When Wang was apprehended, he was carrying a student ID under the name of another Chinese student, bearing a photo of his own face. Authorities also seized "smart glasses" equipped with a camera and communication functions, as well as a small microphone attached to a face mask. Multiple cheating scheme businesses suspected At the Itabashi Ward test venue, approximately 40 test-takers had registered with the same address as Wang. It is believed, by doing this, they sought to be assigned the same venue as him. Based on these circumstances, the MPD suspects the involvement of organized cheating service providers. Investigators believe Wang not only acted as a test proxy under the instruction of a Chinese agent but also was planning to use audio to relay answers to other Chinese test-takers at the venue. On June 7, after Wang's arrest, the MPD voluntarily questioned 10 Chinese nationals suspected of attempting to cheat during another TOEIC session held in Tokyo. Sources close to the investigation said there are multiple exam fraud businesses in China, and the fees paid by clients can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of yen (hundreds to thousands of dollars), depending on the provider. They may be exploiting Japan's lax countermeasures One reason for the surge in exam fraud by Chinese nationals in Japan may be the comparatively lax anticheating measures at Japanese test venues. A 26-year-old Yokohama woman, originally from southern China, says the country imposes strict cheating countermeasures. "In China, metal detectors are used to inspect belongings before entering the room for high school entrance exams or mid-terms and finals. If you have a cellphone, it will be confiscated," she explained. One investigative source said, "They think cheating is easy in Japan and they won't get caught. We're being completely underestimated." Social inequality in China Some observers believe that the trend is also connected to the fact that there are Chinese individuals aiming to study or work in Japan due to unique social circumstances in China. A 32-year-old woman from a farming village in western China, who now lives in Tokyo's Katsushika Ward and runs her own business, said, "If I had been born in Beijing or Shanghai, I probably would have just worked in China." According to Tomoko Ako, professor of modern Chinese studies at the University of Tokyo, China has a family registration system designed to limit migration into cities, which distinguishes between urban and rural residents. Rural residents face discrimination in employment and other areas, while those who live in urban areas where universities are concentrated tend to have advantages in education and job opportunities. Additionally, in China, there are "privileged classes" such as the so-called "Second-Generation Reds," descendants of high-ranking officials who contributed to the Communist revolution. These elites often use money or connections to gain competitive advantages. In contrast, Japan is said to have less pronounced inequality based on birthplace or social class compared to China. Achieving high scores on tests such as TOEIC can expand one's options for school or employment. These circumstances might encourage some Chinese individuals to move to Japan, where they can better leverage their abilities. Ako added, "Among the privileged class, there may be people who engage in illegal behavior in Japan with the same mindset they had in China. For others, the inherent unfairness of China's system might make them feel that rather than engaging in fair competition, it's better to pay money to exploit loopholes -- leading some to turn to cheating."
Nikkei Asia
22-06-2025
- Business
- Nikkei Asia
NIKKEI Film: Why learn English in the age of AI?
WATARU ITO TOKYO -- AI can correctly answer about 90% of the University of Tokyo's English entrance exam questions and is capable of achieving a 900 out of a 990 perfect score on the TOEIC (Test of English for International Communication). The average TOEIC score for Japanese in 2023 was 561. Developments such as these are significant enough that AI translation researcher Eiichiro Sumita asserts, "Practical English for business use should be left to AI." Meanwhile, English-language education has accelerated in Japan in order to better nurture people who can play active roles in the world -- a move that has received a strong push from the business community. English-language kindergartens and international schools are also popular, and parents are enthusiastic about English education. However, these advancements in AI have raised an intriguing question: Is English-language education even necessary anymore? NIKKEI Film explores the future of English learning in the age of AI, with the help of a class of fifth-grade elementary school students just starting to study English.
