Text Box: University of California, Davis Office of Student Judicial Affairs 



Text Box: Creating a Climate of Academic Integrity: Tips to Prevent Cheating

 

 

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How to prevent loss/theft of tests
* Count the # of exams distributed, the # of students taking the test, and the # of exams turned in – before you leave the exam room; make sure the numbers match; use numbered exams and sign-in sheets.
* Collect exams from students while they are still seated rather than have a chaotic rush to the front.
* Have a consistent, secure method of transporting tests between class, office, and home; ensure security of computers & copy facilities; keep office & desk locked when you are out.

 

How to keep a "ringer" from taking a test for another
* Take periodic attendance during the quarter so that you recognize who is in your class and who is not.
* Make sure you collect an exam from everyone; require students to turn in tests to their own TA from discussion section.
* Require students to have their UC Davis ID on their desks during exams and to show ID as they turn in their exams.
Watch for: Ringer taking test for enrolled student (who may be present or not during the exam) – ringer may do own test, then copy Scantron for friend.  Ringer may do real exam while student does a fake exam; when done, they switch papers, the enrolled student writes own name and submits test, while student's exam is discarded or turned in with false name (red flag: exam with a phony name).

 

How to deter use of unauthorized notes or devices

* Give clear oral and written instructions regarding what materials can or cannot be used on the test.
* Before distributing test, remind students put away books, notes, and other study materials & store them out of sight.
*  Do not permit students to use computers, calculators, etc. in completing exams.
* Instruct students to turn off and put away all electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, iPods, headphones, calculators, computers, Blackberries) during exams; inform students that unauthorized equipment found on or out during exams will be confiscated and reported to SJA.
* Change exam questions often, ideally every quarter/section.
*  If you provide sample questions or study sheets, do not use the exact same questions on the exam.
* Have students turn in blank blue books to you at the class period  before the test, mark to indicate you've seen them, and redistribute at random, or have students exchange blank blue books (e.g., pass down a row and to the left).
* Tell students to begin writing on a certain page, to turn bluebook upside down, or to leave specified pages blank.

 Text Box: Watch for: Erased/changed Scantron answers; new, correct answers in place of previously blank or incomplete responses; tests that have been photocopied or photographed, with original answers blanked out & redone with correct answers, forged grading marks; entire exams or inserted pages with higher scores stolen from return bin, names changed, then submitted for credit under the thief's name. Red flags: poor-quality 'second generation' copy inconsistent with original exam; copies of staple holes; entire pages erased and re-written (to avoid detection of different handwriting); suspicious discrepancies with grade book (resubmitted test has score of 90, grade book shows 40). Students sneaking extra blank exam from room to be completed after test and returned for 're-grading.'Text Box: For assistance, please call SJA at (530) 752-1128 or see our website at http://sja.ucdavis.edu. UC Davis, Division of Student Affairs, Office of Student Judicial Affairs, September, 2006Text Box: Watch for: use of information stored in electronic devices (see above); crib notes up sleeve, in lap, on top of backpack, on floor, or written on hand, on desk, chair, clipboard, binder; notes or answers pre-written in blue-books, or hidden in bathroom or nearby classroom; students photographing or text messaging questions or smuggling an extra copy of the test to others outside the room who will take the test later; students leaving the room without submitting their tests (e.g., to use notes or answer key outside class); attempts to sneak finished exam back into the room at the end of exam, or into faculty office; or having an accomplice 'find' and turn in a 'lost' exam later.Text Box: Watch for: theft of ungraded exams from front of room or from faculty office; theft of graded exams from return bin (thief erases owner's name, writes his own name, and submits as his work, or may copy/alter test and submit as own-- may destroy original paper to avoid detection, so that student who did the work appears not to have submitted paper); student may come to test (or to earlier section), remove a copy of the exam (or have friend get a copy) then study before own section's test or the scheduled make-up. Rarely, exam questions or answer key may be taken from faculty office or computer. Student may fail to submit paper or exam, then claim faculty error caused the work to be lost, with the goal of getting an extension or taking a make-up.

How to prevent fraudulent requests for re-grading
* Mark wrong answers/blank space with an "X" or slash mark;  Circle wrong, empty and/or correct answers on Scantrons.  Draw a red line connecting each Scantron answer selected by a student to the next answer ("connect the dots").
* Photocopy graded tests/Scantrons before returning to students.
* If you accept tests for re-grading, require original exams to be submitted by the end of the class period in which the tests are returned with a written statement of which questions they want re-graded and why they think there has been a grading error. Make a list of all students who submit exams for re-grading.
* If you keep electronic copies, let students review on-line copies using class website and password-protected access rather than returning originals of exams.  This prevents theft or unauthorized access to exams, & alterations to graded exams.
* Don’t return tests--allow students to see exams during office hours only.  Or return test papers but not Scantrons (tell students to keep track of their answers on their test papers as well as marking their Scantrons).
* If you re-grade an exam, keep a record of the original score in gradebook & database, including page totals, problem scores, and total exam score.
*  Have one person review all re-grade requests and grade changes.