Preventing Students from Cheating During Exams

Published 17th of Dec 2024 ⋅ Inspiration and knowledge

Students cheating during exams is hardly something new. Over the years, students have shown an almost admirable creativity: from notes under the sole of a shoe to formula sheets disguised as a content label on a soda bottle. However, technological advancements have taken cheating to completely new heights and, at the same time, made it harder to detect.

I remember a math test in ninth grade where, in a brief moment of teenage rebellion, I wrote a formula sheet on my arm with a pen. During the test, I carefully rolled up my sleeve when the teacher wasn’t looking. The result? I was so nervous that I read it incorrectly and probably got a worse grade than if I hadn’t cheated at all.

Despite my failure, this method still required some knowledge to interpret the formulas and actually calculate the answers myself. I probably even learned something during the process.

Today, the situation looks different. With the help of AI tools like ChatGPT, students can get not only the answers but also detailed calculations and explanations. For written assignments, AI can even provide structure, arguments, and polished phrasing. The question is: what does the student actually learn then?

In this article, I list some methods of cheating in today’s classrooms that can be prevented. I have also spoken with Sara Bruun, teacher for grades 7–9, about how she works proactively to prevent students from cheating.

Mimmi Berg

MIMMI BERG, PRODUCT OWNER

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Are exams taken in Trelson secure?

Yes. Digital exams in Trelson taken using the kiosk app (for Chromebooks), our iPad app, or with Safe Exam Browser are secure as long as the devices are properly managed. Trelson locks the device and restricts access to what the teacher has allowed.

But! Trelson can only control the device on which the exam is being taken. Unfortunately, there are many other ways to cheat if the student is sufficiently motivated.

Common Cheating Methods Using Digital Tools

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Smart Watches

Smartwatches have become a tool for cheating. They can be used to read notes, receive messages, and communicate with AI bots. Additionally, students can hide the watch with transparent wristbands, making it difficult for teachers to detect that it has been brought into the exam room.

Hörlurar

Hidden Headphones

Headphones can easily be hidden under hats, hoods, or long hair. By connecting the headphones to a hidden device, such as a smartphone in a bag, students can use various cheating methods. For example, they can record themselves reading important notes or facts and have this played on a loop during the exam.

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Other Digital Devices

It is not uncommon for students to have more than one smartphone. Even if one phone is handed in to the teacher, another can discreetly make its way to the desk without being noticed. If an extra device is smuggled into the classroom, it opens up a range of possibilities for cheating, such as Googling answers or chatting with an AI bot.

How Sara Works to Prevent Cheating During Exams

It has always been important to combat cheating in schools, but technological advancements have made that work more difficult. It is hard to prove after the fact, even when strongly suspected, that a student has used something like ChatGPT during an exam.

Trelson offers tools that can assist in investigations, such as the student log or revision history. However, we advocate for a more proactive approach to cheating during assessment situations, where rules, routines, and consequences are communicated and enforced.

– To prevent cheating, teachers must introduce rules requiring that all smartwatches, just like mobile phones, are handed in or turned off and placed in bags during the test. Most important of all, however, is to talk to students about cheating and inform them about the rules and consequences, says Sara Bruun, teacher and Trelson specialist.

When it comes to preventing cheating in the classroom, Sara follows four principles listed below.

Sara Bruun

Set Clear Rules and Routines
- Establish rules regarding the use of digital devices and communicate these clearly to the students.
- Ensure that students understand the consequences of cheating.
Be Present During the Exam
- Sit at the back of the Classroom for a better overview
- Move around the room during the exam to signal attentiveness.
Have an Open Dialogue About Cheating
- Discuss the topic with the students. Be honest about how cheating affects your work and their education.
- Highlight the importance of valuing their own knowledge development.
Work in Trelson as Much as Possible
- Have students complete as many of their assignments as possible in Trelson, even if they are not being assessed.
- This “forces” students to learn what they need to since they cannot rely on tools like AI bots, which reduces the motivation to cheat.