Yle’s AI cheating attempt fails in university admissions exam

Yle’s attempt to use artificial intelligence to cheat in a test admissions exam was stopped by the Vallu system, which is used by nearly all universities and universities of applied sciences in Finland. Metropolia University of Applied Sciences arranged the test for Yle ahead of the autumn admissions exams, which begin on Monday.

Yle’s data journalist tried to use a local language model, an AI tool that works without an internet connection, during a simulated admissions exam. The attempt failed: the tool could not be used as planned, and after about 10 minutes the system locked the exam, flagging the journalist’s actions as suspicious.

Yle had prepared for weeks, concealing the AI tool on a laptop and making changes intended to let it run without attracting the attention of an invigilator. The newsroom did not disclose the detailed methods it tried, saying it did not want to encourage people to break exam rules.

Vallu exams are taken on applicants’ own laptops, connected to a closed network in supervised exam rooms. Candidates answer questions on a webpage. The system can be used for admission to highly competitive programmes, including medicine and law.

The test followed public criticism of digital admissions exams. In September, the University of Helsinki said it would withdraw an admission offer to its medical faculty from an applicant suspected of cheating in an exam taken through Vallu. Metropolia development manager Tuomas Orama said public discussion had created a misleading impression that cheating in the exams was easy.

Metropolia said it had introduced additional measures to make cheating more difficult since last spring. During Yle’s test, the system recorded four alerts for suspicious activity. Metropolia’s team offered an explanation for the alerts but asked Yle not to publish it.