The original value of the qualification exam and its damage ― The mechanism by which "passing hacks" in MOS exams cause the dignity of the examination system to be lost ―

The qualification test is originally a system that allows those who have learned correctly to objectively prove their skills. If you study in the right way for the exam, you will acquire both knowledge and practical ability, and passing the exam will be a natural result of acquiring that skill. This structure is the essence of the qualification examination as the foundation of social trust. However, in Japan, the MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) exam is currently a widely used learning method to obtain high scores without actual skill acquisition by mechanically memorizing operating procedures called "passing hacks". This paper positions this as an act of digging down the original value of the examination system from the inside, and analyzes its structural mechanism and social costs.There is no problem with the exam itself. The problem is that the learning approach is institutionalized that ignores the design philosophy of the exam. Passing hacks make the exam lose its "preciousness", undermine the social trust of the qualification, and ultimately damage the learners themselves. This paper presents the arguments from multiple angles and makes recommendations for restoring the original value of the test.In this paper, we will address the following research questions: Through what structural mechanisms does widespread cheating undermine the original validity of qualification exams, and what interventions can restore social functioning as a basis for competencies?