Make up test
I usually have two versions of the test so if there are any absent students it lessens the chance of answers being shared. I also send the student to take the test in the library while using an instructor proxy, this lets the student have quiet time instead of trying to take the test while in a noisy classroom since all other students have taken it already they will be on other tasks.
Gamaliel,
Although these creative instructor methods take extra time and effort, sometimes these measures must be don to maintain the security and fairness among the students classmates.
Barry Westling
We use test A and test B also, but somehow, students seem to guess that both contain the same questions but scrambled differently, so at times I need to improvise with a few written open-ended key questions as test C...makes them really think.
Christina,
This is a good idea. I review my exam immediately after students are completed taking it. To use version A, Version B, etc., I usually have to renumber question one as number 11, question 2 as number 12, and so on. Then I can review and say "lets review question 1 or 11, then lets review question 2 or 12" , and so forth. Electoronic tests also now allow me to have the students take their exams on computers, mix the order of the questions randomly, and even mix the order of selections on a particular question. Although extra time is needed to format the tests to this system, it is the best for assurring that "curious eyes" don't find useful information from their classmate neighbors sitting nearby.
Barry Westling
I like to make up different test versions as well. Sometimes, I even write at the top of the test Version A or Version B, and just by seeing this, many students seem disuaded from cheating. Works like a charm!
James,
It's unfortunate students would rather work to cheat rather than spend the same (or less time) on seeking ways not to prepare for assessments.
Barry Westling
As most of us have witnessed over our teaching careers, students become very "sharing" of test material with other classmates. It is amazing how many students I have challenged with a different test version and found their answers the same as the original version. Nothing like a good case of academic dishonesty to get the attention of others. Works every time.
Joel,
It's unfortunate that this much effort has to be done. Student ethics these days puts an additional challenge for instructors to assure there "accidental copying of another s work" does not occur.
Barry Westling
Where I can, I do that as well. Multiple copies scrambled and then distributed in that manner.
Darlene,
Good idea. I do electronic testing, and am able to scramble the order of the questions, and even scramble the order of choices (a, b, c, d,) of an individual question. This helps minimize the "accidental viewing" of the neighbors screen to compare answers.
Barry Westling
Ome of my teachers in grad school kept 4 different versions of each test, so that he could give a different version every year for four years; then the students couldn't share the tests with those who came after them.
Pamela ,
I think the key to any class is to measure student learning. By virture of common practices, we have to test. So we want to have clear and predetermined testing guidelines in place so that our "creative" students don't abuse our testing format. Yours sounds fine. I usually add a small percentage deduction for late test takers, and like you, use different versions of the test. My electronic testing allows me to have one test that can be set to scamble the order of the questions, and even adjust the a, b, c, d, order on a given question, This tends to discourage "busy neighbor eyes" from peering over at their neighbors test. And except for the written essay potions, the test is instantly graded at the moment the student selects "finished".
Barry Westling
