Henan probes suspicious scores in provincial recruitment exam

Following online accusations of cheating surrounding a recruitment process for an assistance program in Henan, provincial officials released a statement on Sunday evening confirming that an initial investigation had found illegal exam cheating activities.

The accusations were aimed at Henan's 2026 "Three Supports and One Assistance" recruitment program. The coordination office under the project's leading group issued the statement.

In late July, Henan authorities released the exam results for the 2026 program. Candidates from Anyang, Jiyuan, Pingdingshan, Zhumadian, and other areas raised score concerns.

Many positions displayed highly suspicious high-score trends. For roles hiring one person, only one candidate scored above 80. For roles hiring two people, exactly two candidates scored similarly. Apart from the convenient exactness of the scores, they also showed a 20-point gap between the top candidates and the rest of the field, with almost no scores falling in the 70-point range. Candidates also questioned the unusually large score increases of several test-takers compared with their previous exam results.

The person in charge of the Henan Provincial Personnel Examination Center has been suspended pending an investigation. Authorities have established a task force to conduct said investigation, the statement said.

The 2026 "Three Supports and One Assistance" program involves initiatives aimed at supporting education, agriculture, and healthcare and providing assistance to underserved areas or populations.