Finnish exam board orders ear checks to curb cheating

All students taking Finland’s matriculation examinations must now have their ears checked for Bluetooth earbuds, Yle reports. The new nationwide procedure was introduced this week as the autumn examinations began.

The changes were made by the Matriculation Examination Board, which had received an increasing number of questions and reports from schools about the use of headphones. Bluetooth devices can be used to connect with people outside the examination room.

Students at Sammon keskuslukio, an upper secondary school in Tampere, said they considered the checks reasonable. None of the students interviewed by Yle had encountered cheating, but they were aware of the possibilities offered by wireless devices.

Supervisors may also use a handheld metal detector to check a student when necessary. Each school decides the detailed criteria for when and how the device is used, and students must be informed about its use.

Sammon keskuslukio has acquired a metal detector. The school’s deputy principal, Kati Rissanen, said the new instructions allow students to be checked, for example, when they return from the toilet or before entering the examination room in the morning. The purpose is to detect hidden mobile phones or other prohibited items.

The board’s secretary general, Tiina Tähkä, said metal detector checks can protect students. A phone accidentally left in a pocket could previously have resulted in an examination being disqualified, whereas a check could identify it before the exam starts.

Cheating cases remain relatively uncommon. Tähkä said around 10 cases are detected per examination period. Rissanen said no prohibited devices had been found during ear checks at Sammon keskuslukio.

The board has also sent upper secondary schools confidential instructions on identifying cheating involving new technology, including smart glasses. The use of artificial intelligence for cheating is another concern for schools and the board.

Some additional rules also apply in the examination room. Students may no longer wear the hood of a hoodie over their head. If a student wears a headscarf, including for religious reasons, the area beneath it is also checked to ensure that no earbuds are being used.

About 47,800 students have registered for the autumn matriculation examinations, around 1,200 more than in autumn 2025, according to the Matriculation Examination Board.