Overseas SAT-Prep Schools Have Hacked the Exam to Help Students Cheat

Impact

While it seems virtually impossible, or at least highly unadvisable, to cheat on the SAT — the standardized test administered to high school juniors to help determine their college eligibility — SAT test-prep schools in Asia have had the system hacked for years now, according to a developing Reuters investigation.

The College Board, the nonprofit organization that owns the test, told Reuters it recycles United States SAT tests for overseas test-takers. Because of this practice, test-prep schools in Asia collect enough information on the test material to essentially provide their students with answer keys. 

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Asian test-prep schools have gotten their hands on entire sections from the most recently-administered U.S. exams, Reuters reported. While the College Board stuck to its "long-standing policy" in not revealing information on the test when approached by Reuters, others, including U.S. students who took the most recent March 5 test, confirmed the content Asian test-prep schools were using to help students was recycled straight from the exam.

"That's literally the one I took," one Maryland high school junior told Reuters.

"It would have been better if I'd seen it before the test," another Texas high school junior told Reuters.

h/t Reuters