Cheating in exams

In this topic we will look at QUT policies and procedures to manage cheating in exams and strategies that you can use to avoid such academic misconduct in your work.

What is it

Let’s start with the basic concept of cheating in exams and general expectations what you should do (and not do) when you are in an exam. 

The basic principal of any assessment such as an exam is that all students will be treated fairly and equally. So, to cheat in an exam will basically mean that you have done something that will give you an unfair advantage in that exam. 

The following actions are all considered as cheating in exams. 

• Students bringing any unauthorised material into the examination.
• Students having access to unauthorised notes or other study aids during the examination. This includes information on paper or any another object, such as a digital device, or on a student’s body or clothing.
• Students engaging in unauthorised communication with others during the examination. Keep in mind that the definition of communication is very broad, so here we are referring to any type of communication. 
• Students copying or reading another student's work during the examination.
• Students compromising the integrity of an exam by failing to comply with standards of conduct during examinations.

To learn more about the standards of conduct during examinations visit the QUT Student Code of Conduct.

Work through this the following cheating in exams learning module to get a better understanding of specific types of actions you need to take to when taking exams at QUT.