The pitfalls of cheating on your TOEFL or GRE test

Using unethical means to get admission into a university could prove to be costlier than you’d be ready for. If found out, institutions can recommend the cancellation of your F-1 visa (or student visa in other countries), warns Sachin Jain, Country Manager of ETS India & South Asia.

The TOEFL test, created by ETS is welcomed by over 10,000 institutions in more than 150 countries. It is universally accepted in major destinations like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and is recognized by over 98 per cent of universities in the UK.

Thus, maintaining ethical practices not only safeguards your visa status but also enhances your chances of success in the competitive landscape of higher education.

In an exclusive interview with ET NRI, Mr Jain talks about the consequences students are likely to face if caught cheating on exams like the TOEFL or GRE, the importance of academic integrity, and the recent enhancements to the TOEFL. 

The repercussions are often financial because, as we know, the cost of education at an international university is significantly higher than that of a domestic institution. There’s a huge financial investment and obligation that a student and their parents undertake when planning to study abroad.

From a university's standpoint, whether in India or abroad, the repercussions are generally the same. If a student is found breaching academic integrity, the consequences can range from disciplinary action to the termination of admission, depending on the severity of the violation. This applies in India as well. But more importantly, if you are studying abroad and breach academic integrity, it can also result in the cancellation of your student visa, which can have long-term implications. For example, it may affect your future opportunities to work or settle in that country because all these actions get recorded.

The biggest difference when it comes to academic integrity in an international setting is deportation. If you use unethical means to gain admission to a university, and they discover this, they can recommend the cancellation of your F-1 visa (or student visa in other countries). Without a valid visa, you would be deported back to your home country, which is a significant financial and integrity loss. Moreover, once you're blacklisted for breaching academic integrity, your chances of getting a visa to study or work in that country again are drastically reduced.

The TOEFL test has evolved over time. For instance, we’ve launched an AI-enabled platform called TOEFL Test Ready, which is a free test preparation tool that offers personalized learning journeys for students. On average, students who use TOEFL Test Ready score five points higher than those who prepare on their own.

Additionally, we’ve reduced the test duration from 3 hours to 2, without affecting the scoring or the content structure. This makes the test experience less stressful for students, as research shows that brain performance tends to decline after two hours.

Another new feature is the immediate availability of predictive scores for two out of the four test competencies, right after completing the test. This helps students gauge their performance and plan their next steps more effectively.

Organizations like CEFA play a critical role in providing the right guidance and counselling to students, especially in regions where aspirations to study abroad are high. The right mentorship and advice from CEFA and its partners help students make informed decisions and reduce the chances of them taking unethical shortcuts. Through proper counselling, students can avoid potential pitfalls and achieve their academic goals in a legitimate and responsible manner.

Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/study/the-pitfalls-of-cheating-on-your-toefl-or-gre-test/articleshow/113602109.cms