Cheating during exams

Why students do it and how parents can deter their child

- Jane Ng

Some cheat because they do not want to let their parents down, others do so due to fear of not making the cut for their preferred school or course.

Some bring unauthorised notes into the exam venue; some write notes on their palm or arm; while others copy answers from another candidate.

These are methods of cheating during national exams recounted by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB), educators and counsellors.

SEAB is a statutory board under the Ministry of Education that oversees national exams. It says that over the past five years, there was an average of 12 cheating cases annually, or about 0.01 per cent of candidates across all levels, including the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), as well as the GCE N, O and A levels.

Students who cheat during exams range in academic abilities, say counsellors. There are high achievers who cheat because they fear not making it into their preferred school or course, and there are also students struggling academically who fear failing or disappointing their parents.

An SEAB spokesperson says that the board takes a serious view on any acts of dishonesty, including cheating.

To deter cheating, candidates are informed about the consequences of breaching regulations at several stages of the examination process, from registration to sitting the exam.

In addition, when an exam is going on, personnel such as invigilators are instructed to be on the lookout for irregularities, to ensure fairness and integrity, while maintaining a conducive environment for all candidates.

"With these measures in place, the incidence of cheating in Singapore's national examinations has remained consistently low," says the spokesperson.

When there is a suspected case of cheating, investigations include taking statements from relevant parties — the candidates involved, witnesses and examination personnel.