DPR Hearing: Expert Reveals Increasingly Sophisticated Cheating Methods in University Entrance Exams

The House of Representatives’ Commission X held a working committee meeting on the national university entrance selection (SPMB) to discuss various issues within the admission tests. Former Director General of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Culture, Prof Nizam, highlighted the increasingly sophisticated methods of cheating.

Speaking at the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Wednesday (24/6/2026), Nizam stated that cheating in the selection process has become more extraordinary. “Cheating in the entrance selection is becoming more and more sophisticated. Recently, for instance, it was discovered that some participants used miniature microphones that could be implanted in the ear and so forth. The level of cheating is truly becoming extraordinary,” he said.

Nizam noted that the biggest challenge regarding cheating lies in the computer-based written test (SNBT), as the cheating is organised and involves test jockeys. “The challenge for this test is indeed the issue of cheating, which we have suspected over the past few years is organised. There are what you call jockeys and so on, which are becoming increasingly sophisticated—essentially, service bureaus for gaining entry into higher education institutions,” he stated.

According to data received by Nizam from the selection committee, a number of cheating cases have been identified, ranging from cheating during the test to administrative and technical violations. Due to the increasingly advanced nature of the cheating, he expressed hope that the selection committee will become equally sophisticated in its countermeasures. He also called for strict sanctions to be imposed on participants caught cheating. “Sanctions, a blacklist for participants identified as having cheated—they should be blacklisted from the opportunity to register at public universities,” he said.