Poll: School - Is This Cheating?

[Jandau]

If you are studying the materials before the test, then no, it's not cheating. It's fairly common on many colleges for students to compile lists of exam questions and use them, even if the questions change. It's a good basis for studying and tells you what will be expected of you on an exam. If the questions stay the same, it's not your fault.

However, if you have to steal the tests or something, then that IS a problem.

 

[lacktheknack]

Just because the fruit is hanging low doesn't mean you should take it...

Well that was a rather useless statement.

You don't do metaphors?

Just because they've made it easy to do something doesn't magically make it an acceptable course of action.

 

[lacktheknack]

You don't do metaphors?

Just because they've made it easy to do something doesn't magically make it an acceptable course of action.

Just because a teacher is a lazy bastard does not mean that a perfectly acceptable course of action becomes wrong.

Since when has looking at the answers to your test before/during said test ever been an acceptable course of action?

 

[Ouroboros0977]

Generally if you can get it from the exam board as a student, it isn't cheating.

 

[evilneko]

Looking at past tests I just can't see as cheating. Hell I've had professors that encouraged and provided tests for the practice. Naturally, the tests they actually gave in class were different. Even if the prof didn't encourage or themselves provide the tests, I'd still call it study.

As for the other stuff like using wolfram and any apps you want in the other class, I think that's closer to cheating, and something you should definitely complain about to the professor. If necessary, I'd say even take it to the dean.

 

[kwydjebo]

So teachers re-use exams, but then, they usually collect all the questions back afterwards.
Really, it sounds like that IOS class is a joke, and they're (The school) just giving the grades away. As for your case, I don't see it as cheating at all, however my opinion matters less than your school's. Speak with the teacher, a teacher, or the guidance councellor, if they think this is cheating (when really it sounds like a lazy teacher) you might want to hold off then, but if they say its cool, then you're good to get a great mark, and a crappy education. However is it possible the teacher makes the test LOOK the same, but different enough so that you'd do badly if just memorized the results?


Back in my university days, it was standard practice to go to the library and get past exams from a certain subject (and prof) to study those to prepare for upcoming tests.

In fact for one course I remember NOT getting the past exams to study, and a few days before the exam in a special "Exam prep" class the teacher was offering, one student asked "Will looking at past exams help?" and the prof got a funny look on his face and said "Won't hurt". Then during the exam I noticed that on the top of the question page, the year was wrong, and realized he'd used an exam from 4 years previous, hadn't even changed the damned date (And I regretted not looking at that past exam).

 

[spacewalker]

Its possibly the teacher that is cheating here, to keep the grade average high.

 

[lacktheknack]

Since when has looking at the answers to your test before/during said test ever been an acceptable course of action?

Using tests from a previous years class to help you study has always been an acceptable course of action. What has never been acceptable is a teacher reusing the exact same test year after year.

And thus the teacher invalidated the method. Obviously, he shouldn't, but until then, it's not an acceptable choice of action.

Complain to the teacher.

 

[mitchell271]

What kind of high school are you going to that they teach classes on iPads? Shit. My high school couldn't even afford new textbooks more than once a decade.

The school doesn't own them; the students do. To take the class, you need to own an iOS device.

However is it possible the teacher makes the test LOOK the same, but different enough so that you'd do badly if just memorized the results?

No, they're the exact same. I occasionally look over my friend's tests after my test so I have a rough idea of what my mark will be.

 

[Fishyash]

Quite bad that they do that in the first place...

But anyways I would consider it cheating because it isn't a matter of knowing the subject rather than knowing the answers of the test. It will give you an unfair advantage over other people who have or will take the test.

 

[__Anarchy__]

Of course its cheating, but if you could gaurentee that its the same test as the one that your going to be sitting why wouldnt you do it, if your teacher that stupid and lazy then he deserves to have all his students cheat.

 

[drosalion]

I wouldnt say its cheating, but i would say that teacher and his subject sounds absolutely moronic

 

[joshuaayt]

Oh, dear. It's the teacher that is cheating, not you- not changing the tests? That's just silly.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

If you can boost your marks without breaking any rules then do it. There is no reason why you can't look at someone else's test. Not your fault the teacher gives the same one.

 

[OriginalLadders]

I'm at university and every single lecturer I have ever had has recommended using the past exam papers for revision. It's standard practice here and I can't see anything wrong with it.

 

[walrusaurus]

What kind of high school are you going to that they teach classes on iPads? Shit. My high school couldn't even afford new textbooks more than once a decade.

The school doesn't own them; the students do. To take the class, you need to own an iOS device.

So the classes are divided along socio-economic lines? That sounds like an incredibly positive way to run a school.