One smalls problem

The story about 58 Thai students arrested for cheating (Diary, News: International, THES , February 7) raised some intriguing questions.

The students were, reportedly, sitting multiple-choice exams during which pagers they had put in their underpants were set to vibrate once if the correct answer was the first option or twice if the second answer was correct.

But what if the students, either through anxiety or inattention, got out of sync in the middle of the test? Could they not go back and sense a few vibrations again or would they get it all wrong?

The sight of scores of students vibrating in an exam hall and feigning normality would certainly add spice to invigilation.

Stanley Paliwoda
Birmingham University
Business School