In June 2025, baccalaureate candidates will face strict instructions: cell phones, tablets, and smartwatches must be turned off and stored in bags, or face sanctions. This restriction is not new, but it has seen significant growth in recent years: +14% in one year, with 560 cases handled by disciplinary committees in 2024. More worrying (but inevitable): 52% of cheating now involves the use of new technologies, led by smartwatches.
No more cheat sheets, but watches
Similar cases are multiplying: in the event of a memory lapse, students simply need to go to the bathroom and send a message to a friend from their smartwatch to get the necessary answers. Discreet, practical, and sometimes equipped with a SIM card, these have quickly become a favorite among cheaters, especially since it has become possible to install AI on them using the ChatGPT application.
Faced with this threat, exam centers are trying to double down on cheaters. Invigilators have cell phone detectors, the number and location of which remain secret to thwart any anticipation. Random checks are conducted, and smartphones must be placed in the bag and turned off. It is also requested to keep ears clear, to counter the use of earpieces or discreet communication devices. Connected objects, even when turned off, are prohibited, as is any equipment with electronic memory or allowing file consultation.
However, precautions are not enough. Social media is full of tutorials explaining how to evade the vigilance of invigilators, which further complicates the examiners' task.
Sanctions: Zero Tolerance
The law is unambiguous: any attempt at cheating, whether proven or simply suspected, results in the nullity of the test in question (a grade of 0/20), or even the cancellation of a group of tests or the entire session. Administrative sanctions can range from a simple reprimand to a ban on taking any National Education exam for five years, or even from enrolling in a public higher education institution. So be careful before trying to give fate a helping hand.
It should also be remembered that, from a criminal perspective, cheating on the baccalaureate is a crime. The penalties are severe: up to three years in prison and a €45,000 fine for forgery and use of forged documents, or up to ten years in prison and a €1 million fine for identity theft. Accomplices may also be prosecuted.
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