Is this cheating?

guineylab

Before exams begin (during the time to fill in your name, exam #, etc) I have always seen a few students writing all over the front of the exam booklet with potential notes/formulas that may be relevant. In my school this was not allowed at all but I have yet to see any invigilators comment on it. Is this allowed?

partyatmygaff

If it's from memory how could it be considered cheating? Don't see the problem myself.

Rachiee

One of or lecturers actually recommended that we do it.

Ravelleman

You shouldn't begin writing until you are given permission to begin by the invigilators. Before the exam you're only allowed the fill in the front of your exam booklets. However, it's very difficult to police, hence people getting away with it. Strictly speaking, it's not allowed.

Writing down plans for essays is a good idea after the exam begins though, especially in subjects like history where the exam is entirely essay based.

longhalloween

Nothing wrong with scribbling down formulas from memory during the exam.

It's done before the exam paper is given out, so it's not like they get a head start.

Ravelleman

longhalloween wrote: »

Nothing wrong with scribbling down formulas from memory during the exam.

It's done before the exam paper is given out, so it's not like they get a head start.

Exam papers are handed out long before the students enter the exam hall.

longhalloween

Ravelleman wrote: »

Exam papers are handed out long before the students enter the exam hall.

But are the student looking at the papers before writing the notes?

I only know the procedure in UCD where the exam is given out after the students are seated.

I still wouldn't consider writing anything from memory as cheating.

234

Exams are already in place as you enter but are not turned up so you can't see the questions.

It is a weak form of cheating in that you are still gaining a time advantage over the other people taking the exam by scribbling out all of those notes that you would otherwise have to do during the allotted time.

partyatmygaff

234 wrote: »

Exams are already in place as you enter but are not turned up so you can't see the questions.

It is a weak form of cheating in that you are still gaining a time advantage over the other people taking the exam by scribbling out all of those notes that you would otherwise have to do during the allotted time.

You won't get marks for random notes/formula on the cover of the booklet.

234

partyatmygaff wrote: »

You won't get marks for random notes/formula on the cover of the booklet.

No but if you were going to have to write them out anyway, not to gain marks, but to aid your writing/work in the exam questions then you are still giving yourself a time benefit.

And if they are not of any benefit, then why waste time and risk potential disciplinary action by writing them out?

guineylab

I thought it was practically taking notes into an exam except they are at the front of your exam booklet. When topics are given out before hand people draft their whole essays on the front of the booklet.

irish_goat

I've seen a few people do it and it's generally ones who don't have a grasp of the material. They'll stare at a page of formulas outside the exam hall and then regurgitate it when they find their seat 10 seconds later. Then when the exam starts you can see them blankly staring at the formulas at the front of their papers cause they don't actually know what is is they're supposed to do with them.

Sir Ophiuchus

As I understand it, there's no actual rule against it. What it's mostly useful for is remembering lists of names and dates, which is absolutely vital in the humanities. I did it all the time, and no invigilator ever said anything. I've also trained as an invigilator, and nothing was said about it.

Since you're just scribbling stuff onto the front of the exam paper, there's no actual cheating involved. Technically it would be absolutely kosher to wait till the start of the exam *then* scribble those notes, but it seems fine to do it beforehand. You're bringing nothing in, after all.

ConorT38

Nah dude, it's just good mental practice if it's from memory, I wouldn't call that cheating at all.

qmzp

I remember always being told not to write anything other than name/student no. before the exam starts. That said, I have never seen or heard of anyone being reprimanded for it.