Taking exams can be a pressured and stressful time, with a lot riding on your results. However, in order for exams to be fair for all and for results to be trusted, there are rules that apply to you and everyone taking exams and assessments. This doesn’t just mean cheating during the exam – there are also rules that apply before you take an exam or assessment, and afterwards. If you break those rules, this is known by exam boards as ‘malpractice’ and we have to investigate.
So, make sure you are aware of the rules you and every student are expected to follow. These are clearly set out in the Joint Council for Qualification’s (JCQ) information for candidates. We’ve summarised the main ones for you here.
Social media and online networking groups
Social media and online forums can be very useful for revision, research and advice but there are rules on what you can share and discuss about your exams online. Examples that could lead to an investigation include:
- Sharing information about an exam or assessment if you have sat it before others
- Passing on rumours or information about exam content
- Posting your work online, in part or full, before an exam or assessment
- Receiving help in producing your work, or helping others produce their work
- Making comments about cheating in exams or assessments – jokes about this are not a good idea
- Failing to report exam-related rumours or information you have been sent by others.
Remember, we monitor social networking sites and internet forums.
Keep coursework, controlled assessment and non-exam assessment your own
Although some of the rules vary between qualifications, the general principles are the same:
- All of your work should be yours and yours alone – even if there was some group work.
- Do not loan your work to others – you can be penalised if they copy you, even if you didn’t know they were going to.
- Make sure you reference your sources of research and anything you copy is marked as a quotation, including an acknowledgement of where it came from.
- Type or write up your own work with your name and candidate number on every page.
Don't copy others – avoiding plagiarism
Plagiarism is submitting someone else's work as your own and/or not acknowledging your source correctly. It's one of the more common types of malpractice and can often occur by mistake. Here’s some advice on how to avoid it:
- Planning – Writing a brief outline will help define the balance between your own original ideas and the ideas of your sources.
- Research – Take thorough notes so your information is organised. Write down the key points in your own words and why they are useful for you. It’s good practice to look at more than one source for each aspect. Note down page numbers and URLs so you have a record of your sources and can easily find them again.
- Writing up – Use your notes rather than the original sources, writing them up in your own words. Add a reference to all of the sources you used, even if you are not quoting directly.
Remember to put direct quotes in quotation marks with a page reference or URL as acknowledgement.
If you quote specific solutions or large sections of text, make sure you explain why you’ve quoted it and how it’s relevant, otherwise you may not be given credit and you may be penalised. It’s good practice to include a bibliography of all sources at the end.
Remember, you don’t have to copy and paste something for it to be plagiarism – learning a passage off by heart and reproducing it also counts if you don’t acknowledge it.
Tips for success in the exam hall
Be prepared
Try to arrive early, but don’t panic if you’re running late. Your school or college may allow you to start an exam late and still receive the full time (within reason).
Take the time before you go in to make sure you’ve checked all your pockets and are ready to start. Make sure you don’t write any last-minute revision on your hands before your exam. Failing to wash it off properly is not an acceptable excuse.
What not to take into an exam
Every year, invigilators discover students with mobile phones or other banned items on them. Many may have just forgotten to hand them in, but we can’t accept this as an excuse. Possession of a mobile phone (or any other internet-enabled device) in an exam, not just using it, is against the rules.
What not to write in an exam
Some exams and assessments require you to discuss sensitive topics like race relations, equality or morality. It’s important to remember though that racist, sexist, lewd, homophobic or anti-religious group comments will be penalised.
You must also not include obscene drawings or other offensive content. In extreme cases, penalties for this may extend to the rest of your exams.
How to report malpractice
So, you've followed the rules but you think other students may not. What do you do?
Your school or college must report all incidents of suspected malpractice – even minor ones – to the relevant exam board. If you suspect malpractice, talk to your teachers or exams officer and they can give you advice. For more information on how to report malpractice, see our whistleblowing section.
When we investigate malpractice we follow the JCQ policies and procedures document Suspected Malpractice in Examinations and Assessments.
Our investigations are confidential. We may ask for statements, documents, photos and any other relevant supporting evidence and anyone suspected of malpractice can submit a statement. They can also see the evidence against them, although we may delay disclosing all evidence if we feel it may affect our ability to investigate.
We may share details of a malpractice decision with other awarding bodies, relevant authorities, and in some extremely serious cases, the police.