I used my older sibling’s test to study and now my friends are calling me a chea
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To give some background, all of my closest friends are pretty smart and are in the same Honors class in which the test was taken for.
So basically my older brother had the teacher I currently have a year before me. He saves all his work and my parents even instruct him to do so, so I can use them later.
I studied my brother’s test for the first assessment that I ever took from that teacher. I sent pictures of the test to a friend of mine (not the one that calls me a cheater) after she asked for them and I agreed (not thinking much of it). Before this, I’ve mentioned to my friends (including the ones that called me a cheater) that I have my brothers test and that he had the same teacher as we did.
Once I looked at the test I knew it was the exact same one that my brother took. My friend and I both realized this and we made a deal not to tell anyone that already didn’t know.
A little later I told my friends that it was the same test and they didn’t really react badly towards it and was kinda surprised. I didn’t think they really cared about it so I wasn’t worried at all. However, later when I was getting good grades and the friend that I shared the test with was doing well (they don’t really like her and sometimes I don’t like that friend either, it’s complicated) they started bringing up the fact that I was using my brother’s test and cheated.
Whenever we had a test coming up they would mention that I cheat because I use my brother’s test. When I ask them how I’m cheating they say it’s because I looked at the answers/test before everyone else and I understand that but I should be able to still use the test (it’s literally my property). I even offered the test to them and thought that they might wanna use it but they declined and said they would feel guilty about it.
I don’t feel guilty and I’m not exactly sure why.
So should I stop using the test to study? How should I react to my friends when they call me a cheater? Are they right? If so, what should I do? Are they wrong? What should I do?
Idk help pls
You didn’t exactly cheat, because you didn’t expect the teacher to use the same test. If you had intended to cheat, then you are too stupid to be in an honors course, if you then turned around and told your friends and even shared the old test. Your teacher is lazy and never should have given the identical test. College fraternities keep a file of old tests as study aids (and as a way to gain an advantage when teachers are too lazy to construct new tests). To even that playing field, many colleges have a file of past exams in the library, which students can peruse as they study. Even the SAT exam makes prior questions available for study guides.
I’m not as sure that your parents are blameless. Their order to your brother to save his test papers suggests that they knew, or at least strongly suspected, that many teachers would have a fair number of repeats.
I would talk to your parents. It sounds like it’s just a matter of time before someone tells your teacher. If that happens hopefully they will just revamp future tests but there’s a not-zero chance that you’ll wind up in the principal’s office. Once you realized that you’re getting the same exact tests it became cheating.
What do you suggest I talk to my parents about? And if it is considered cheating, what do you think I should do? I’m pretty sure my teacher is aware that people have her tests because yesterday she was talking about how she didn’t want to give us extra time on a test because she thinks that having a second glance at a test is cheating. There’s a kid in my class who retook the class and had the teacher last year and was in the class my brother was in so I don’t know why she wouldn’t change the tests. The other classes that she teaches does the same thing too. What should I do? I know I’m not the only one too and I’m sure she’s been reusing tests for years.
Thank you for your response. Do you think I should just keep quiet about the situation? What should I do about my parents? Should I discuss this with them? I don’t think I’ll get caught but is there anything I can do to prevent it? I’m not too worried about get caught so I don’t plan on confessing anything but what happens if I do get caught? Should I just deny it or what?
I don’t know why you think you won’t get caught when your blabbing to people. If you think teenage girls don’t repeat everything you tell them you are about to find out that reality.
Denying it after telling multiple people and texting pictures to someone would be very unwise. Your friends are calling you a cheater to your face—there’s no reason to believe that they’re not going to get pissed and raise a stink about this. Honestly, they should.
You are cheating. That’s why they are calling you a cheat. Having an unfair advantage over the rest of the class is unethical.
Your teacher is lazy, but some part of you knows this is wrong.
You shouldn’t deny it- you admitted to it multiple times to different people. The fact that you want to hide the truth proves that you know it’s wrong. Otherwise why deny? Admit it. Ask your teacher if it’s common practice to study, take pictures and share old tests.
I am a teacher; what you’re doing is classic cheating. The teacher needs to know (but also to switch up the tests, because DUH), and you need to come clean about this. If you don’t and you’re discovered, your entire academic career could be in peril.
Thank you for your honesty and response. I trust my friends so I don’t think they’d rat me out, but I don’t know for sure so I’m trying to be more careful and conscience around them. Should I tell my friends anything? Should I just shut up about it? If they call me a cheat again, what do I do, should I just ignore it until they stop?
I’ve never been questioned about the test so should I tell my teacher even though she doesn’t know? If I should come clean, how do I go about doing that. There is a part of me that thinks this is wrong but what should I do now? I’ve realized that it isn’t too ethical but should I just stop?
Yes, your friends are right. You are a cheater. You may not have intended to cheat at first, but continuing to study with your brother’s old tests when you knew the teacher would be using the exact same ones is intentionally cheating.
You should get out in front of this before someone tells your teacher out of resentment. Personally, I would request a meeting with your teacher and the principal, explain that you have been studying with your brother’s old notes and tests (which is not wrong and not cheating), and that you were surprised to see that the same test was used. Say that because of this, you feel that you did not come by your mark honestly and you would like the opportunity to re-take a different version of the test.
The reason I’m recommending meeting with the principal as well as the teacher is that this is partly the teacher’s fault – it’s her responsibility to change the test year to year. If you meet with her alone and she then goes to the principal to accuse you of cheating, she may twist the situation to protect herself, and the consequences could be much worse for you. If the principal gets the whole story, he or she will be able to address the teacher’s failings, as well as yours.
The right thing to do is be brave, admit your mistake, and accept the consequences. You may have to retake the test, or you may have to retake the course, but I’m hoping your honesty will keep you from being suspended or expelled, which are the usual consequences when a cheater is discovered. And make no mistake, if most of your class knows, you will eventually be exposed. The longer you let this go on, the worse it looks.
I should add that my husband is a former teacher, now a vice-principal, and says he’d treat a student who confessed to cheating with more leniency, because guilt and honesty are signs of morality and good character.
