Once described by Cisco as an “isolated problem” the network giant has made its biggest move yet to stamp out exam cheating. Beginning Aug. 1, candidates will receive preliminary score reports imprinted with their photos and unique authentication codes, among other measures.
According to a Cisco news release “exam results and other testing data will be continuously analyzed by forensic software to detect aberrant testing behavior and to flag suspect exams for further investigation.”
The paper scores will be preliminary pending the results of forensic analysis, until official exam scores are posted to the Web within 72 hours of exam completion. Candiates can then use the authentication codes on their score reports to access the Pearson VUE Web site for score and photo verification, Cisco says.
Late last year, Cisco began requiring all exam takers to provide digital photos and digital signatures during the admission process at Pearson VUE. However, some observers didn’t believe that went far enough to deter the so-called “hired-gunmen” who take exams for other people.
Cisco says the latest measures are in addition to others that include simulation-based testing, dynamically generated questions and emulations.
Clearly cheating is a bigger problem for Cisco than it previously would admit to and it should be applauded for taking these measures to safeguard the integrity of the certification for the honest IT worker who has worked his or her butt off to pass the exams. But do you think the latest measures cover all the loopholes?
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