Thorough investigation and reflection on the incident of "changing test questions in the middle of the postgraduate entrance examination"

[Bright Times Review]

　　According to media reports, on December 26, in the 2022 national postgraduate admissions examination, Jilin Normal University's professional subject 333 Education Integration temporarily changed the paper 40 minutes after the start of the examination. The examinee had to answer the questions again and the examination was delayed because of this.

　　This incident received an official response from Jilin Normal University.

Jilin Normal University issued a statement stating: “On December 26, 2021, before the self-proposed comprehensive subject education (subject code 333) exam for the postgraduate exam of Jilin Normal University, the school found that relevant personnel were disseminating information about the questions on the Internet. There is a certain security risk. In order to ensure fairness in the exam and safeguard the interests of candidates, the school immediately activates alternate test papers and replaces the test questions for all candidates who apply for our school and take the exam for this subject."

　　This is a serious incident in the history of graduate exams.

This incident to some extent dispelled the seriousness of the national postgraduate admissions examination, and also affected the examination results of the comprehensive subjects of education in Jilin Normal University.

In the examination organization, any adjustments and changes that disrupt the original examination procedures and schedule will have an impact on examinees' psychology and on-the-spot performance.

In terms of time, the delay in the start and end of the morning test will affect the test takers’ mentality and state of the noon break and the afternoon test.

　　Moreover, some examinees reported that the actual time to change papers varies from test site to test site.

In some test centers in Jilin Province, an urgent notification was given to change test papers when the test started. Other test centers changed test papers at 40 minutes after the start of the test. Some test centers did not change test papers until 70 minutes after the start of the test. Most of the test paper is written on it.

The authenticity of these claims has yet to be investigated by the authorities. However, in emergencies, the unfair factors of the test caused by the time difference in the information transmission of the decision to change the paper are obviously possible.

　　For this incident, we must have a thorough investigation and rational reflection.

The postgraduate entrance examination is a national examination. It is reported that 4.57 million candidates entered the examination room this year, and their life destiny is likely to be rewritten by these examination papers.

Regarding such an important exam, no part of it should be negligent, and responsibilities must be compacted.

It is true that the postgraduate entrance examination is different from the college entrance examination. The examination subjects for professional courses vary from school to school, and the organization of the examination is more difficult. However, no matter how difficult it is, it is the responsibility of the school. We must not let anyone make fun of the candidates’ future and destiny. .

　　Of course, the school made the decision to change the test papers after being aware of the possibility of leaks. The starting point was not wrong.

If there really is a leak, and the school turns a blind eye and deaf ears, it may not arouse the current social attention and public opinion pressure, but the cheaters may succeed, and the balance of fairness in the exam will even be tilted and unbalanced.

In this sense, we should give the school a little tolerance.

At present, the school said that it has called the police, and with the intervention of the public security organs, the matter must be investigated and found out. If violations of discipline and law are found, they must be severely punished in accordance with the law and give the students a satisfactory explanation.

　　In addition, the reflection on this incident should also include how to deal with emergency response if similar incidents occur again.

Emergency interruption of the test process and temporary replacement of test papers, under the conditions of tight test links and scattered test rooms, will inevitably bring about many new problems that affect the fairness of the test, and it is difficult to call it an optimal choice.

Previously, some places adopted the form of organizing re-examinations to deal with similar incidents. Of course, this will also bring other drawbacks.

From the perspective of the relevant organizations and management departments of the exam, we should learn lessons from this incident and improve the emergency response plan by classification and classification. This is also a necessary measure to maintain the seriousness of the exam and the legitimate rights and interests of the candidates.

　　(Author: Zhong Chao)