New Tricks: Earbuds Resembling Lentils Found in Candidate's Ear Retrieved with Magnet

This year's admission exams have recorded worrying trends, with a noticeable decrease in interest towards the Armenian language and Armenian history. The spokesperson for the Assessment and Testing Center, Khachanush Grigoryan, told Factinfo that this year, a total of 5,536 candidates applied for the English subject in the unified entrance exams, marking the highest number among the subjects. Mathematics follows in second place with 4,972 applicants, while the Armenian language occupies the third position with 1,320 candidates, the same number of candidates having applied for Armenian history as well. Interest in the Russian language was shown by 259 candidates, while 47 applied for German, 39 for French, and just 2 for Spanish. There were no applications at all for Persian and Italian exams.

The last examination day is set for June 28, when candidates will take the history exam.

“Some candidates this year have distinguished themselves not only by their knowledge but also by their ingenuity. In particular, during the biology exam, an earbud, resembling the size of a lentil, was discovered in one candidate's ear, connected through a wire sewn into the collar of their shirt,” said the spokesperson from the GTC, adding that the lentil-sized earbud was retrieved using a magnet. “This year's novelty in the admission process is that candidates are only allowed to enter the examination rooms after being checked by metal detectors. In the checking area, candidates are obliged to leave all technical devices behind.”

“Quite interesting ideas are being employed; some candidates pre-place technical devices in the restroom, while others sit near the window with the device placed outside. However, the GTC staff, through years of experience, can understand the situation just by observing the candidate's behavior,” Grigoryan noted.