TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — High school students sat for the second day of Taiwan’s college entrance exam on Sunday, covering English and Chinese.
Approximately 121,000 students registered for this year’s exam, which runs from Jan. 18-20. The Ministry of Education reminded candidates to bring valid identification documents to exam centers and to completely turn off their mobile phones during the test to avoid point deductions, UDN reported.
According to the College Entrance Examination Center (CEEC), two students brought mobile phones into the exam room and used them during testing on the first day. These incidents were classified as cheating and could result in significant point deductions or receiving zero points for the affected sections.
The Ministry of Education stated that valid identification documents include health insurance cards, driver’s licenses, residence permits, passports, disability certificates, or national ID cards. Student ID cards are also acceptable for the exam. On the first day, 50 students failed to bring original valid ID.
Candidates were also reminded that mobile phones must be “completely turned off,” including alarms, vibrations, and notification sounds. Setting phones to airplane mode or silent mode does not suffice. Violations result in a deduction of three points per section. On the first day, 12 students were penalized for not fully powering off their phones.
Other violations included 14 students drinking water or chewing gum during the test. The Ministry of Education reiterated that wearable devices, such as smartwatches, smart glasses, or smart bracelets, are strictly prohibited. Regular watches are allowed, but they cannot have calculator, memory, communication, or photography functions.
Students must stop answering questions immediately when the exam bell rings. Failing to do so, signing in advance, or skipping the sign-in process results in a one- or two-point deduction. Eleven students were penalized on the first day for continuing to write after the session ended.
Due to low temperatures, students wearing hats, masks, or scarves during the exam must cooperate with inspection procedures, including identity verification through photo ID checks by proctors.
