'Unprecedented' Mass Zero Scores... What Happened at Yonsei University?

Multiple Cases of AI Cheating Detected in Midterm Exam
Professor: "All Students Caught Will Receive Zero Points"

Yonhap News reported on November 9 that signs of cheating during the midterm exam were confirmed in a lecture at Yonsei University's Sinchon Campus, causing a stir on campus. It was reported that a number of students used artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT.

At a lecture at Yonsei University Sinchon Campus, signs of cheating during the midterm exam were confirmed, causing a stir on campus (photo is for illustrative purposes and unrelated to the article content). Pixabay

According to the report, the professor in charge of the third-year course "Natural Language Processing (NLP) and ChatGPT" recently announced, "A significant number of cheating cases were discovered during the exam," and stated that all students found to have cheated would receive a score of zero. More than 600 students were enrolled in the course, which was conducted online. The midterm exam was also held online on October 15.

The exam consisted of multiple-choice questions on an online platform. Examinees were required to record and submit their computer screen, face, and hands during the exam. However, it was reported that some students adjusted the camera angle or overlaid programs on the screen to cheat. After confirming these circumstances, the professor gave students an opportunity to voluntarily confess.

The exact number of students who cheated was not disclosed, but among students, there was speculation that more than half of the class may have been involved. In a poll conducted on the university student community Everytime, out of 353 respondents, 190 answered that they had cheated, while 163 said they had solved the problems themselves.

Student A said, "Most students used ChatGPT. I calculated that it would be difficult to secure a good grade if I was the only one not using it." Student B also stated, "Many of my friends searched for and used AI tools while taking the exam."

Within the academic community, there are increasing calls for the need to restructure educational and evaluation systems in response to the rapid spread of generative AI. Experts emphasize that new learning strategies are needed, such as allowing the use of AI to some extent, but also requiring citation of sources and the recording of personal opinions to foster critical thinking skills.