UTBK 2026: 38 Fraud Cases and 1,751 Violations
The National Selection Committee for New Student Admission (SNPMB) has identified 38 cases of fraud and 1,751 violations during the 2026 Computer-Based Written Test (UTBK). The serious fraud cases comprised 27 candidates using proxies and 11 using prohibited devices during the exam.
SNPMB Chief Eduart Wolok stated that the committee has tightened UTBK procedures following an evaluation of last year’s cheating patterns. One measure implemented is the random allocation of test locations, dates, and sessions.
According to Wolok, candidates can now only select the city for the UTBK without knowing the specific test centre. Details of the location, date, and session are provided ten days before the exam, making it harder to organise cheating. “Only 10 days before the test will candidates know the UTBK centre, date, and session. It’s processed randomly,” Wolok said after a press conference at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology in Jakarta on Monday, 25 May 2026.
He explained that schedule randomisation has also been applied to programmes previously deemed vulnerable to cheating. The committee has immediately announced fraud findings from the first day of the UTBK to deter other candidates. “It can be said all fraud is now detected. Even proxy users are being handled by the authorities,” Wolok added.
Committee data shows 27 candidates suspected of using proxies, with seven actually attending the exam. The committee used AI-powered photo matching to identify suspicious candidates.
Wolok said checks included school photo verification, candidate data matching, internal UTBK investigations, and police reports. He noted that this year’s fraud involved multiple parties, requiring comprehensive handling.
Besides fraud, the committee recorded administrative and technical violations during the 2026 UTBK, including 1,560 cases of incomplete or mismatched documents, 174 automatic photo detections, nine cases of cheating, seven mismatched photos, and one technician photographing exam questions.
Wolok stated that candidates proven to commit serious fraud will be blacklisted from all state university admission channels, while those committing administrative violations will be disqualified from the UTBK and not receive an exam results certificate.