How do you avoid cheating during a test?
Separate the students when giving a test. Keep watch over them usually from the back of the room. This will discourge them from looking at other students papers. This will also help them to concentrate more on what they are doing.
Sandra, your idea of having the students turn around is great! It's so simple, yet effective.
I have found that moving around the room,while appearing casual about it,gives the impression that I wish to be close should a question arise during the test, but it also alllows me the opportunity to watch for wandering eyes or whispers behind hands,,,i believe it also subconsciously makes them aware that they can never be sure where I'm looking, as I make it a point to never look in one place but rather use my peripherial vision to continuously scan the room for signs of cheating.
Always keep watch over the students while testing; never leave the room during a test. Also, using two or three different test versions is a good idea. Another thing I do occasionally is to ask the students to turn their desks around and face the back of the room. This spoils the plan of cheating from a particular student.
I agree! Also, a small code number in one corner of the test form can help to sort these different versions of tests.
Having a class discusion on the purpuse for test on the individual and how it works in a negative way for each persons self performance when cheating , seems to do very good .
Hi William,
Sounds like a good plan to offer your students a good assessment format while reducing attempts at cheating on the exam.
Gary
Most of my classes are in a computer lab environment and I use an LMS to manage the course and to present test materials. I set up each test, to the extent possible, to present the questions randomly so that no two students will see the questions is the same order. I also, space permitting, have the students keep at least one empty station in between them.
Hi Raymond,
You make a good point about trying to keep students focused on the assessment and them displaying what they know about the subject. In order to do that you need to create a neutral setting for the assessment so the students won't be tempted to cheat.
Gary
I have found having multiple test versions help with cheating, however student are smarter than we think they are at times so any thing you can do to prevent it helps but I think keeping a watchful eye on them is the best way to prevent cheating
Yes, that also works well for me.
Well, I like to switch up the answers on the test so that students sitting next to each other do not have the exact same test. This tactic always work well.
