The New Zealand Qualifications Authority's annual report on 2018 NCEA and NZ scholarship data shows 17 Otago secondary school pupils and 13 Southland secondary school pupils were investigated for breaches in the 2018 NCEA and Scholarship exams.
In 2014, there were only 10 breaches reported in Otago, and zero in Southland.
Nationally, 407 pupils were investigated following the 2018 examinations - 35% more than the 301 recorded in 2014.
The breaches in 2018 in Otago and Southland included having notes, using notes, communicating with another candidate, failing to follow instructions, unauthorised absences from the exam room, causing a disturbance, and offensive language and drawings.
The majority of breaches (nine) were for having a cellphone in the exam room.
Sixteen Otago candidates were sent warning letters but received their results.
However, one candidate had one or more of their standards for that examination session withheld because an investigation found they had cheated.
In Southland, 12 candidates were sent warning letters and their results were released; again, one candidate had one or more of their standards withheld.
Otago Secondary Principals' Association secretary Gavin Kidd was not concerned by the number of exam breaches because he believed the majority of them were done inadvertently.
''Sometimes you get kids who, in the pressure of the situation, have cellphones in their plastic bags and forget to take them out.
''Most of the issues are to do with not following instructions, and not deliberate cheating.''
He also believed the overall increase in breaches may be an indication that exam centre managers and supervisors were being ''more effective in assuring that all candidates were following the rules''.
NZQA assessment deputy chief executive Kristine Kilkelly said breaches were reported by examination centre managers, markers or schools, and each was handled using a confidential process that followed ''natural justice''.
She said nationally, NZQA confirmed 407 breaches relating to the 2018 examinations which equated to 0.03% of the 1,187,532 total external assessment entries in 2018.
''By far, the majority of students work very hard to prepare for their examinations and comply with all rules.
''The majority of breaches related to students failing to follow instructions, such as having a cell phone, notes or other unauthorised material in the examination.''
