In a growing survey of opinions on the future of examination security, experts warn that within a few years the current mix of metal detectors and camera systems used to monitor Unified State Exam (USE) participants could lose some of its effectiveness. This viewpoint was shared in an interview with DEA News by Anzor Muzaev, who leads Rosobrnadzor, the federal agency overseeing state testing in Russia.
Muzaev predicts that over the next five years, rapid technological progress could bring about significant trust challenges. He suggests that while some examinees will diligently prepare and follow the rules, others will attempt to bypass safeguards using new digital tricks and loopholes that are harder to detect.
The official notes that students are already experimenting with technology to gain advantages, though the on-site control tools installed in schools continue to perform their duties. With Rostelecom supporting the deployment of communication suppression devices, noticeable gains are being achieved. Yet progress in technology never stands still, and the tools available to those who wish to cheat are being updated and refined as well.
Despite these trends, there are still moments when students manage to take the exam without relying on the most advanced systems. A recent case in St. Petersburg involved a graduate who faced a fine after being caught with reference materials and notes concealed in a pocket. Examiners recorded the moments when the materials dropped to the classroom floor, revealing the hidden aids to the evaluators.
Reports have also highlighted a broader social pattern tied to the exam period—an uptick in the use of tranquilizers among some Russians, a phenomenon observed in conjunction with the Unified State Exam cycle.
— [DEA News attribution]