The 'invisible' earpiece on sale to exam cheats

The 'invisible' earpiece on sale to exam cheats

By LAURA CLARK - More by this author » Last updated at 22:43pm on 17th August 2007 Comments

Secret helper: The earphone (below) is smaller than a 5p piece

Exam boards have been alerted to a hi-tech cheating scam they fear could be about to sweep through schools.

Tiny earpieces which link to mobile phones or iPods are being marketed specifically to help pupils boost their test results.

Candidates could either pre-record factual information on an MP3 player and listen to it during the exam, or make secret contact with a third party feeding answers from outside the exam room.

The Canadian maker ExamEar claims its device - which is smaller than a 5p piece - is "completely invisible" and "completely wireless" and promises customers: "No more thinking about getting caught using old notepaper techniques."

Exam chiefs launched an immediate investigation yesterday, condemning the firm as "disgraceful".

There are three models of the device with varying degrees of sophistication, graded as silver, gold and platinum.

The silver costs £86 and "fits the needs of students who are doing a test, exam or any classbased assignment", according to the company website.

It has a four-hour battery charge, which the firm claims "should be enough to complete any complicated and tedious test/exam".

The gold model, costing £100, "has a great reputation for succeeding on long exams".

The £140 platinum version uses bluetooth wireless technology to connect a microphone to a mobile phone, enabling two-way communication with an external helper.

The firm's website says: "The entire system could be easily connected to a Dictaphone or a player (mp3, 4, iPod etc).

"You could record any information, anything you wish on those electronic devices and later on just listen to it, whenever you are ready."

Students are told they could enlist the help of a partner who could feed them answers from outside the exam hall.

The candidate could whisper the questions into a microphone which is secreted on their person, possibly in jewellery, and connected to a mobile phone in their pocket.

They could then hear their partner's responses through the hidden earpiece.

The company reminds users to mute their phones.

"Very important is not to forget to turn the volume on silent

mode, and turn the vibration on (you would not want anyone to hear would you?)"

ExamEar claims to have shipped products to Britain.

Pupils taking public exams in the UK are banned from carrying mobile phones and can lose marks for doing so, even by accident.

But frisking is not routinely carried out.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority revealed yesterday an unnamed teacher had passed it information about the company.

A spokesman said exam invigilators would be placed on alert.

The QCA is also investigating whether it has legal powers to force the firm to change its advertising. ExamEar was unavailable for contact.