Name: VIPPER 2005-01-21 2:39
National exam-related info appears on Net before tests
2005.01.18
Information relating to national English and Japanese examinations for entry into universities and colleges appeared on an Internet bulletin board before the exams were held, it has been learned.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has ordered the National Center for University Entrance Examinations, which conducts the tests, to conduct an investigation.
The messages appeared on the "Ni Channeru" (Channel 2) Web site, Japan's biggest Internet bulletin board.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on Jan. 15, a thread with the Japanese title "Hello, this is Pat's Brother Kevin," was set up on the bulletin board. At the beginning of the thread was an English message in Japanese characters that said, "Hello, my name is Kevin."
On the same day, about eight hours later, a character named Kevin appeared in a question in the national English examination. The question contained the phrase "Hi, my name is Kevin."
The following day, just before 1 a.m., a posting on an online bulletin board discussing the exam problem said, "The novel is by Shusaku Endo."
About nine hours later, Shusaku Endo's novel "Nikushin Saikai" was taken up in two Japanese examinations. Afterwards, many messages were posted on the bulletin board citing a possible leak.
Ministry officials said it was unlikely that information from the examination had been leaked.
"The questions are strictly controlled. A leak is unthinkable in the first place," a ministry official said. (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, Jan. 18, 2005)
2005.01.18
Information relating to national English and Japanese examinations for entry into universities and colleges appeared on an Internet bulletin board before the exams were held, it has been learned.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has ordered the National Center for University Entrance Examinations, which conducts the tests, to conduct an investigation.
The messages appeared on the "Ni Channeru" (Channel 2) Web site, Japan's biggest Internet bulletin board.
Shortly after 1 a.m. on Jan. 15, a thread with the Japanese title "Hello, this is Pat's Brother Kevin," was set up on the bulletin board. At the beginning of the thread was an English message in Japanese characters that said, "Hello, my name is Kevin."
On the same day, about eight hours later, a character named Kevin appeared in a question in the national English examination. The question contained the phrase "Hi, my name is Kevin."
The following day, just before 1 a.m., a posting on an online bulletin board discussing the exam problem said, "The novel is by Shusaku Endo."
About nine hours later, Shusaku Endo's novel "Nikushin Saikai" was taken up in two Japanese examinations. Afterwards, many messages were posted on the bulletin board citing a possible leak.
Ministry officials said it was unlikely that information from the examination had been leaked.
"The questions are strictly controlled. A leak is unthinkable in the first place," a ministry official said. (Mainichi Shimbun, Japan, Jan. 18, 2005)