China adopts drastic measures to counter cheating in end-of-year exams

China is deploying far-reaching strategies to prevent cheating during end-of-year exams. With the ubiquity of artificial intelligence and its easy access via smartphones and tablets, authorities have decided to adopt radical solutions to preserve the integrity of the gaokao, the equivalent of the baccalaureate. Technological restrictions and advanced proctoring systems are being implemented to ensure a fair and reliable assessment of students.In China, the gaokao is a crucial exam for millions of high school students aspiring to university. Faced with advances in artificial intelligence and its potential for cheating, Chinese authorities have implemented innovative measures to ensure the integrity of this exam. From restricting the use of smartphones to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to detect cheating, the effort is ambitious. Here’s how China intends to maintain the fairness of this key national exam. The « Gaokao »: A National Exam of Capital Importance The « gaokao » is the Chinese equivalent of the French baccalaureate. Every year, millions of high school students, more precisely 13.4 million in 2025, take this exam. Unlike many Western education systems, admission to Chinese universities depends exclusively on passing this series of tests, which cover several subjects: mathematics, Chinese, and English, among others. The Rise of Artificial Intelligence TechnologiesWith the widespread availability of artificial intelligence applications such as chatGPT, Gemini, and Mistral AI, cheating has become not only possible but also much more personalized than with a simple Google search. China, not wanting the results of its national exam to be compromised, has decided to act firmly.

Technology Bans During the GaokaoTo prevent cheating during this crucial exam, all smartphones are banned from exam rooms. But that’s not all. Between June 7 and 10, several artificial intelligence apps such as Qwen, Deepseek, and Doubao had some of their functions disabled. For example, uploading photos to these platforms was temporarily blocked. This was done to prevent any attempt to solicit a chatbot’s opinion on test questions. AI vs. AI: Technology Detecting Cheating

While some apps responded that the requests violated their terms of use, authorities deployed other AI-based measures to monitor exam progress. In several Chinese provinces, smart camera and microphone systems were implemented to detect suspicious behavior, such as whispering or staring at a neighbor. These technologies can automatically identify those who might be tempted to cheat.

Candidates’ Reaction to AI Applications This fight against cheating using AI is not without its side effects. Several users of apps like YuanBao expressed frustration because their legitimate, unrelated questions were also blocked during the exam period. Nevertheless, this demonstrates the rigorous measures taken to ensure the fairness of the gaokao.

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