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  3. Malpractice

Malpractice

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Cambridge English Malpractice Procedure

Cambridge English (and in the case of IELTS, together with British Council and IDP Education Ltd) has a responsibility to candidates, test centres and other stakeholders to ensure the integrity of our examinations by putting in place robust measures to identify and deal with instances of candidate or test centre malpractice.

The Cambridge English Malpractice Procedure deals with cases of suspected irregular conduct. 

Irregular conduct is any action which gives or aims to give unfair advantage to a candidate or causes disadvantage to other candidates. The Notice to Candidates, which is displayed outside all examination rooms, warns candidates of the consequences of such actions. In the case of IELTS, candidates are warned of the consequences of such actions in the Application Form (Notice to Candidates and Declaration).

Cambridge English, British Council and IDP Education Ltd have rigorous procedures in place to detect instances of malpractice. 

Examples of malpractice include: 

  • obtaining unauthorised access to examination material
  • using or trying to use unauthorised material, e.g. notes, study guides, mobile phones
  • copying/collusion or attempted copying/collusion
  • disruptive behaviour or not following the instructions of an invigilator, supervisor or Centre Exams Manager/IELTS Test Administrator, e.g. use of mobile phones or other electronic devices
  • impersonation (pretending to be someone else)
  • altering any results document, including certificates/IELTS Test Report Forms
  • any other form of cheating or gaining of an unfair advantage.
Cases of suspected malpractice may be reported, for example: 

  • by the centre, e.g. a report from an invigilator
  • by an examiner, e.g. unusual incorrect answers, shared by candidates who were sitting next to each other
  • via an application for Special Consideration 
  • by statistical analysis of candidates' answer sheets (see below). 
Once reported, potential malpractice cases follow a process of investigation by Cambridge English staff, assisted as necessary by the Malpractice Panel, which may lead to results being permanently withheld. In the case of IELTS, potential malpractice cases are also investigated by the Investigation Teams of British Council, IDP Education Ltd, and IELTS USA.
 
Post-test statistical analysis
 
In line with best practice, we investigate potential malpractice by carrying out a range of statistical analyses on individual candidate results, pairs and groups of candidates in test venues and the overall results of all the candidates from one test administration. 
 
These analyses may include, but are not limited to:

  • comparing the similarity of response patterns, or marks, between two or more candidates
  • comparing the performance of a candidate on one test paper to their performance on the other papers 
  • comparing the performance of a candidate on one test date to their performance on a previous test date
  • assessing the likelihood of certain responses and scores given the overall ability of a candidate
  • analysing key stroke activity (in a computer-based test).
In each case the analysis assesses the likelihood of any given pattern of results or scores being found by chance, given the typical pattern observed in the rest of the test population (based on historical candidate data). In other words we identify instances where the candidates’ results are substantially different from those observed in the overall population.
 
Any cases which are identified as being unusual may then be further scrutinised by an external Malpractice Panel (or an internal malpractice panel if required due to business continuity measures). All available evidence is checked before a decision is made on whether to withhold results.
 
If we have reasonable grounds to suspect that a result is not a reliable indicator of a candidate’s ability, then we believe it is in the interests of all candidates that we withhold it. 
 

Malpractice Panel meeting 

Cambridge English has a dedicated Malpractice Panel which looks at cases, taking into account all relevant information, e.g. statements from candidates. After carefully considering the case, the Panel may be asked to help us to decide whether the candidate's result should be released or permanently withheld. The centre is then asked to inform the candidate. 

If it is decided that a candidate's results can be released, the original results will be issued, unchanged. If it is decided that the results should be permanently withheld, the candidate will not receive a result. In the case of IELTS, candidates found to have engaged in malpractice may also be banned from taking the test in future.

This procedure is designed to ensure that all decisions are consistent, fair and based on the fullest information available. We aim to complete the investigation of suspected malpractice cases within eight weeks of the test date. In the case of IELTS, some investigations may take longer to complete. 

There is an appeals procedure for candidates who wish to appeal against a decision to permanently withhold their result. Information about the appeals procedure can be found on the enquiries and appeals page.

Cambridge English Qualifications: Malpractice Procedure Step by Step Guide

Timescale

The Malpractice procedure will start on the exam day through to the results release, up until the case is resolved. In some rare instances where new evidence of malpractice is discovered, the malpractice procedure will run after results release.

Results

As stated in section 3.4 of the Cambridge English Regulations, the Malpractice procedure may dictate that affected candidates do not receive results, or their result may be cancelled after it is issued.

  • You might get your result later than others in your group
  • Your result might be cancelled before it is released
  • Your result might be cancelled after it is released if concerns are raised after the release date.
  • We may cancel or withhold results for an entire exam session, if a centre has breached our regulations in delivering our exam products.
  • Note that we may share malpractice information with recognising institutions/government organisations.
  • We may share malpractice information with receiving institutions/government organisations.

Step 1 – Suspected malpractice is identified

A candidate is identified for suspected Malpractice by one of the following:

  • the centre
  • an examiner
  • statistical analysis of their responses
  • a Cambridge English investigation (such as an inspection)

Step 2 – Malpractice case is created

We create a case for each individual

  • We withhold the candidate’s result (if not yet released) or
  • We withdraw the candidate’s result (if already released)
  • We contact the centre and request any supporting information that may be relevant to the malpractice case; for example, the exam venue’s room plan.

Step 3 – Malpractice sift

Cambridge English analyses the malpractice case using our established criteria to decide whether the case should be reviewed by a Malpractice Panel. These criteria are designed to filter out cases that do not merit further review by us.

  • If the case does not meet the criteria, we contact the centre to resolve the case and release the result.
  • If the case needs to be reviewed by a Malpractice Panel, the case advances to Step 4.

Step 4 – Candidate Statement

In preparation for the Malpractice Panel review, we contact the centre and request a candidate statement from each candidate involved. The statement asks them about the circumstances that raised the suspected malpractice case.

The statement gives the candidate a chance to represent their view of events. If the candidate’s version of events does not match the other facts of the case, this can lead to further investigation.

  • Cambridge English will inform the centre why the malpractice case was raised and the centre then needs to inform the candidate.
  • The candidate provides the centre with a statement, which the centre sends to Cambridge English.
  • Under 18s can be represented by their parent or guardian if they wish.

What should a candidate include in their statement?

  • their personal response to the suspected malpractice claim against them. E.g. acceptance or denial of the suspicion.
  • any mitigating circumstances the candidate feels the exam board should consider.

Step 5 – Malpractice Review

Once we receive the candidate’s statement, the evidence for the case is given to a Malpractice Panel. If we do not receive the candidate’s statement, we contact the centre again. If we do not receive the statement within two weeks of our original request, we will proceed with the malpractice review without it. The candidate can provide a statement at any later appeal stage.

  • For malpractice cases concerning the use of electronic items, these are considered by an internal panel from Cambridge English.
  • All other cases are given to an external Malpractice Panel to consider except in cases of business continuity arrangements where cases will be considered by an internal panel.
  • Once the panel review the case, they make a recommendation to Cambridge English to permanently withhold, or release the candidate’s result.

Stage 6 – Outcome

We will provide a final decision based upon the Malpractice Panel’s recommendation and will contact the centre with confirmation of the decision.

If the decision is to release the result, the candidate will receive their result via the normal channel.

If the decision is to permanently withhold the result, the candidate will not receive a result.

The candidate can appeal against our decision by requesting an appeal via their exam centre. Further information can be found here.

All decisions are made on the information that is supplied to the Malpractice Panel during the Timescale set out above. The Malpractice Panel will seek to make a reasonable assessment on the facts presented. The Malpractice Panel will have set regulations to adhere to and will seek to implement the regulations in an independent manner. The processes in place are designed to allow for robust protections of qualifications. The candidate is deemed to have accepted and understood the regulations by sitting the exam and it will be for the candidate to prove that any discretion sought is appropriate or; that a decision made via the above process is not in itself a reasonable outcome for the Malpractice Panel to have reached.

Further information

For further information or advice please contact the Cambridge English Helpdesk team.

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