Crime TOEIC scores voided for 803 test-takers linked to cheating ring

[thomas]

The organisers of the TOEIC test have annulled the test results of 803 individuals suspected of cheating with the help of an imposter. According to an announcement made on 7 July, the Institute for International Business Communication will also prohibit individuals from taking the TOEIC exam for the next five years. The case centres on Wang Likun, a Chinese graduate student at Kyoto University, who was arrested in May for allegedly trespassing at a TOEIC test site in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward by impersonating another examinee.

A pair of smart glasses seen in this file photo taken at Totsuka Police Station

Investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department believe Wang may have attempted to provide correct answers to others involved in the scheme quietly. Since May 2023, the 803 individuals in question had reportedly registered for the exam using the same or a nearly identical address to Wang's, prompting the mass invalidation.

TOEIC exam venues are assigned based on test-takers' addresses. Applicants from the same neighbourhood sit for the test at the same place. The institute also stated that it ensures 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, stating that he would be paid if he took the test. The MPD believes others have provided correct exam answers in similar arrangements.

TOEIC records nulled for 803 over ties to cheating group | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

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Over 800 suspected of cheating on TOEIC English exam in Japan - The Mainichi

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 a

mainichi.jp

 

[Ukigumo]

We had an similar issue with Chinese students in my old department at university. The department had slightly higher 'IELTS' requirement for English language proficiency than other departments and our Chinese applicants (from an institute called the Northern Chinese Alliance College, if I recall correctly) passed without issue. When at the start of the autumn semester I met my tutorial group face-to-face and chatted to the Chinese student(s) they were barely able to speak English and their writings were unintelligible. We had a suspicion the tests were being taken by proficient aliases and in the and we had to ban applicants from the Northern Chinese Alliance due to suspected cheating.

An unfortunate consequence of this cheating was the poor students struggled with the course, they performed badly in their examinations and suffered stress and declining mental health as a result.

 

[thomas]

Similar tomfoolery seems to be happening at the JLPT exams:

Osaka Police have taken at least five individuals into custody in connection with incidents involving Vietnamese technical intern trainees who allegedly arranged for others to take the Japanese language proficiency test on their behalf—a requirement for changing residency status in Japan. Foreign technical trainees seeking improved working conditions or extended stays in the country are often required to pass this language exam. The arrests include both individuals who arranged for someone else to take the test and those who acted as stand-ins.

It is suspected that technical trainees with poor Japanese language skills have asked Vietnamese nationals who have lived in Japan for a long time to take the tests on their behalf. The presence of their intermediaries has also been confirmed, and the prefectural police believe that such cheating methods are widespread within the Vietnamese community in Japan. The issue first came to light after The Japan Foundation, the organizer of the Japanese language test, grew skeptical over the prominently high pass rate at the Osaka exam venue when the rate normally stands at around 40%. At one point, almost all examinees at the Osaka venue were passing. This led the foundation to suspect that impersonators were taking the exams in Osaka. After being consulted by the foundation, Osaka Prefectural Police arrested a 31-year-old Vietnamese woman in December 2024 for allegedly taking the test by posing as another individual. "I've done it 10 times or so," the woman was quoted as telling investigators, raising suspicions that proxy test-taking is rampant.

Japanese language proxy test taking thought to be rampant among foreign technical trainees - The Mainichi

OSAKA -- Osaka Prefectural Police have arrested at least five people in connection with cases of Vietnamese technical intern trainees acting as

mainichi.jp