Applicant Barred from Kazakhstan's UNT Exam for Hiding Smartphone in Size 43 Shoes

The National Testing Center (NTC) has reported a surge in sophisticated methods employed by graduates attempting to cheat during the UNT-2026 exams. Inspectors have encountered a variety of tactics, from high-tech gadgets to more traditional hiding spots.

One particularly unusual case involved a petite female applicant who arrived wearing size 43 shoes, concealing a smartphone within them. This incident highlights the lengths some students will go to gain an unfair advantage. In another instance, a female test-taker attempted to hide a mobile phone in her hair tie, while another applicant tried to smuggle a paper cheat sheet in a similar fashion. The NTC also noted an attempt to bring in smart glasses this year.

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Every year brings a new wave of applicants and, so לקראת say, new approaches to smuggling prohibited items. This year, one such instance involved an attempt to bring in smart glasses.

Didarbekova, deputy head of the National Testing Center, stated that "Every year brings a new wave of applicants and, so to speak, new approaches to smuggling prohibited items." She added, "This year, one such instance involved an attempt to bring in smart glasses."

The NTC has reiterated its strict policy against the use of any concealed gadgets or paper materials, emphasizing that such violations lead to disqualification and the annulment of results. Over the seven weeks of the main UNT-2026, a total of 715 rule violations were identified, resulting in hundreds of applicants being disqualified or having their scores invalidated.

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There was a recorded case where a petite girl arrived wearing size 43 shoes, in which a smartphone was hidden.