Questions from the national College English Tests, the CET-4 and CET-6, held earlier this month were leaked again this year (see CET: test or torment, page 7). While the investigation continues, some newspapers have commented on the issue. Here are excerpts from two articles.

Privatization of tests

An article by Xue Yong in the Oriental Morning Post says the necessity of the government-run CET was called into question after the leaking of the test contents again this year. Granting private institutions the right to organize such tests, and thus establishing a "test market" appears to be one feasible cure.

A test market in which all institutions compete for test-takers will not just guarantee the integrity of the tests but promote better service for all test-takers.

Once a test becomes a product, its producer will make the utmost effort to protect its integrity - as has been seen with the TOFEL test. Due to leaks in several exam rooms, the test organizer once had to cancel all the results on the Chinese mainland and hold an additional test for free. Costly and troublesome as it was, it successfully ensured the reputation and integrity of the test.

In the US, various tests form a highly profitable industry, which adds considerably to the economy. However, such a profitable industry can also mean an enormous financial burden for the government as long as it's managed and organized by the State. A lack of adequate funding could lead to lapses in management.

Currently, all universities in China are using a uniform test for selecting students - the College Entrance Examination, which encourages acquiring knowledge by rote. If tests are run by private institutions, different sets of tests can be developed to cater to the unique demands of each university, reflecting the university's educational principles.

Recruiting system to blame

An article by Song Zhibiao published in the Qilu Wanbao reports that the repeated content-leaking cases in the CET-4 and CET-6 exams have tarnished the integrity of the tests to some extent.

The phenomenon reveals that Chinese society still pays exceptional attention to "formalities", such as the kinds of certificates a person has acquired, rather than the ability he or she has. Certificates, undoubtedly, provide a cost-efficient way for companies to judge in a human resource market where supply exceeds demand. However, the broad application of such a system has provided an excuse for candidates to resort to "abnormal" ways of gaining success in tests.

New and advanced methods have been applied in recent years in an effort to check the spread of cheating, but little improvement has been achieved.

In fact, those who cheat in exams or profit from irregularities in test rooms are just puppets that have been manipulated by a distorted recruiting system.

However, before better remedies for the predicament are in place, it is unrealistic to call off the CET exams. Reform of the system is necessary. According to the latest news reports, a law on tests is being considered. For legislators, it will be a challenge, since they have to decide if cheating in tests is a moral transgression or one that falls within the jurisdiction of the law.