What does it take to expel a student from a university for cheating, does having the exact answers of a second test version count?

Answered Dec 10, 2017

It depends on the particular institution, and the particular circumstances. For example:

How the student came into possession of the test answers.

How the student got caught (e.g. during the actual test).

Whether the student already has a history of cheating (or other bad behaviour).

If the student brought the exact, official second-version answers into the test room, that is still major misconduct of attempted cheating, even if the actual test being conducted was a different version of the same test.

Depending on all of this, there may be a range of consequences, all of which will be negative.

At the very least, you will have damaged your personal reputation in the eyes of lecturers, professors, and other staff.

Clear guilt may lead to automatic failure of the test, and the course.

At most, if a temporary suspension or permanent expulsion are being considered, my guess is that the head of the relevant department will get involved first. Then they may refer the matter to a disciplinary committee.

The student may have some sort of due process, and an opportunity to submit their side of the story. In some kind of borderline case, the student’s attitude may have an impact (positively or negatively).

Being expelled would go onto the student’s file, and probably their transcript. Other universities, employers, and educational funding bodies will all take a very negative view of this.

Personally, I have sat many tests and exams, and, no matter how nervous or unprepared I was, I have never even attempted any misconduct. I also accept personal responsibility for my for my grades, and want for them to always be legitimate, whether I like them or not.

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