Studying in a foreign university/ country is a dream for many students and starting a new life in a foreign country too. To start this new life the first step is to get admission to a foreign university. The first and foremost requirement to get admission into one’s dream university is to pass a language proficiency test which is the starting point for admission in a foreign university.
It is no wonder that an individual who wants admission to a foreign university can do whatever it takes to maximize his chances of admission into their university of choice.
If a person is planning to graduate from any of these countries namely:- the United Kingdom, Australia, or Canada, that person is likely to take a Language test, which is known as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test to evaluate your the command on English Language competence if that person is from a country that does not recognize English as its national language.
Now one should understand what exactly is IELTS, so this test comprises four parts to assess your English language competence: Listening, Writing, Reading, and Speaking. This test is of 2 hours and 45 minutes and this test could be the deciding factor in your admission to a foreign university. If one does well in IELTS one’s got the first part of his application done and sorted and if one fails you have to wait for a year if you can’t retake the IELTS on time for your application deadlines.
As the risk factor is this high, it’s not surprising that so many applicants and parents resort to dishonest means to qualify for this exam and get the desired scores. There are many unscrupulous means by which one can pass this exam for example: – there are many highly qualified groups offering leaks to exam questions and there are fake candidates who can appear for the test on your behalf.
Cheating in the IELTS exam: Is it Possible?
It’s very important to note that cheating, in any way or means, is strictly prohibited by IELTS. Those who are caught will have to face the IELTS cheating consequences which can risk their admission to desired university and can lead to the rejection of their visa application. Students who appear for the IELTS exam receive a notice that states that they must not “engage in any form of malpractice which may damage the integrity and security of the IELTS test”.
As we have already discussed, IELTS is a mandatory process for the abroad dreamer. They face so much pressure that some of them are frightened and dread that they end up using unfair means to clear this exam. As we all know, using any unfair or illegal means to accomplish anything is always risky, as is the case with IELTS. If one gets caught trying to change his/her score in any way, consequences of cheating by punishment in IELTS can jeopardize your admission to the dream university and you may be banned from taking the IELTS test.
What is considered to be cheating?
- Pretending to be another person.
- Dummy candidate – Making some other candidates sit at your place in the exam.
- Causing problems in conducting the exam in any way.
- Tampering any data on the Test Report Form.
- Trying to copy answers from another test taker.
- altering any results document, including certificates/IELTS Test Report Forms
- any other form of cheating, or gaining an unfair advantage
The above-mentioned techniques are qualified as cheating and one can be punished and may have to face serious consequences.
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IELTS Cheating Punishments & Consequences
If an individual is found using any unfair means in the exam that person will not be allowed to sit. If one is found altering his/her result once you have taken the test, that person’s result can be canceled. Moreover, the report of that person’s cheating will be forwarded to the immigration authorities or to the institutions to which you have made an application. These organizations will cancel your application and debar you from applying to them in the future.
One will be completely banned from appearing in the IELTS exam again. IELTS exam cheating not only carries serious implications for the cheater but also compromises the validity of the test. IELTS is a safe exam with many levels of security to stop cheating. Therefore, cheating applicants not only fail the exam but also suffer legal and reputational repercussions.
After understanding the IELTS cheating consequences nobody should go for unfair means or cheating to clear the IELTS exam as this can lead to rejection of one’s application at the desired institute and it can also shatter one’s dream of studying abroad, people waste a lot of time in looking for various methods of cheating but at the end they end up wasting their precious time and money, instead if they put effort and time in preparing by fair means they can have a better chance of qualifying this exam.
Measures taken to prevent malpractice in IELTS
To prevent cheating of any form, during the exam, the authorities have several checks and balances to safeguard the exam process from any kind of cheating. These checks and balances are strictly followed by the test centers. These measures include biometrics and photographic identification, one is informed about the list of things that one can carry to the examination room, and the authorities have installed security cameras in the hall to keep an eye on students giving exams.
There are several safeguards in place to defend against results being fabricated. On the day of your IELTS exam, a photograph of you will be taken, and it will appear on your IELTS exam Report Form. IELTS has implemented fraud protection procedures to recognize fake Test Report Forms (TRFs). When one is detected cheating, there are severe repercussions. Candidates won’t be permitted to finish the exam and won’t get an IELTS test score. Their test results will be revoked if they are caught cheating after they have already received them.
The British Council website states: “If fake evidence is supplied, immigration agencies and universities that accept IELTS results will revoke your application and bar you from reapplying. Malicious test takers can also face legal repercussions. Test takers are protected by several well-established security procedures, which also serve to secure the interests of the organizations that depend on the reliability of IELTS results.
These safety precautions include:
Rules for test papers, procedures for registering and verifying test takers, and instruction for test center employees in impostor detection, fraudulent behavior detection, and cheating prevention stringent testing requirements.
A Test Report Form (TRF) with many security features, including security-enhanced paper, authenticated by an IELTS validation stamp, and a high-resolution photograph of the test taker, should be used to verify test takers’ results.
Conclusion
IELTS cheating consequences can be severe for the individual involved. When you stop to think about it, cheating isn’t worth the risk when the repercussions of being discovered may practically jeopardize your entire future. It may greatly affect the career of the students and may even get them banned from their dream universities.
To successfully study for the exam and avoid the desire to cheat to achieve a high score, it would be preferable and more productive to invest in finding a qualified IELTS instructor who can mentor you and provide you with insightful comments on your strengths and shortcomings.
FAQs
Is IELTS better than TOEFL?
While both tests have their merits, IELTS is the better choice for several reasons. It evaluates language skills more comprehensively, offers more flexible testing options, and is recognized by a greater number of academic institutions, professional bodies, and immigration departments around the world.
What is the IELTS cheating punishment?
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.
For how many years are the IELTS results valid?
The certificate’s validity term begins when the results are announced, usually five to seven days after the exam. IELTS scores are recognized in different countries, nevertheless. In the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom, the TRF (Test Report Form) is valid for two years. The validity of IELTS scores for immigration to Australia is three years. IELTS certificates are valid for two years in the majority of nations, however, this is not always the case.
How long will the IELTS exam take?
The four components of the IELTS are Speaking (11–14 minutes), Writing (60 minutes), Listening (30 minutes), and Reading (60 minutes). The exam lasts for two hours and forty-five minutes in total. The assessments for writing, reading, and listening are completed in one session.
Can someone fail in the IELTS exam?
Not really. There is no pass or fail in the IELTS exam. But you might fail to get the score you need because every university has different IELTS score requirements.
Neha Sharma is an IELTS faculty with a decade of experience in teaching IELTS. She holds a PhD in English from Stanford University, USA. Excelling in tailoring her teaching to individual student needs, she has helped over 50,000 students achieve their target scores. Actively involved in research, she ensures that her methods remain effective and innovative.
