How Do You Feel About Cheating

[jakemcmillan]

My high school socials class curriculum is ridiculous. They pack far too much content into a semester course. So lately, since I can't remember everything, and I'm busy studying for other subjects, I've got into the habit of making a small cheat sheet. I'll type all the key points and things that I think are important and shrink it down into a small 3"x3" paper. To the point I can barely read it, but still can.

My teacher once said "Cheating is good, getting caught is not." Bad influence on me haha, it definitely stuck.

How do you feel about cheating on tests? Not life in general.

[WhiteGorilla]

I don't think I've ever not cheated until I got to college where they're much more strict if you get caught , but it's not right. You still don't learn the material.

[MikeD]

High school has a lot of bullshit that you only need to know for the tests anyway; that's basically what they're teaching you for, to take a test. So cheating...meh.

[jakemcmillan]

High school has a lot of bullshit that you only need to know for the tests anyway; that's basically what they're teaching you for, to take a test. So cheating...meh.

Yeah that's how I feel. Learn the bullshit for the test, take the test, then forget about it. Because I know I won't need to remember what happened 100 years a lot of the time.

@White gorilla: Haha you cheat on all your tests, but it's not right? Fair enough. And I don't care to learn the material, there's plenty that I learn on my own, on my own time. Stuff that I actually need for life.

[JasonLB]

I think cheating is a cop-out. I'm not familiar with Canada's education system, but I am familiar with California's, particularly the social-studies curriculum. Content standards have gotten out of hand here too, and we are forced to "teach to the test," but that's no excuse for cheating. Content material aside, the habits you form now will stay with you in the future. And, frankly, if you think it's hard now and cheating is your only hope for a passing grade, then I hope you don't have any plans for education beyond high school -- it doesn't get easier.

[hardestgainer]

I'll give a short list of times where I have gained a questionably fair advantage.

A test to become authorised to work for a national organisation - The lecturer left the room and everyone else started comparing answers. I never had any intention of cheating but I didn't have much choice in the end.

A University mid-term test - We were given links to some online mock tests which I had made use of. What we didn't know was the real test consisted of exactly the same questions, as I had been practicing I knew all the answers to them and it took me 10 minutes to do the test.

A test to join a certain society - There were example questions on one page and lower down on the same page and the one next to it were the real questions. In the time we were given to do the example questions I ignored the example questions and did the real ones, not writing anything down just memorising the answers so that once the clock started for the real test, I could immediately answer the first 10 questions and have a load more time to work out the rest of them.

Anyway my point is if someone gives you a test where you have to say which country a flag is from and they are stupid enough to leave a poster in the room showing all the countrys' flags, you should take advantage of it. Because if you don't everybody else in the room will and you'll be the one who is being cheated. And no I have never felt the need to carry a folded piece of paper, a calculator with memory functions or an ipod with a headphone hidden in my sleeve.

[cripmeister]

I thought you meant cheating on your girlfriend Cheating on tests is like cheating on SL 5x5, very bad.

[maroon]

I never really understood the point.

If you really "need the grades" it's because you have an ambition for further studies. But cheating would surely catch up with you when that time comes? So.. carry on cheating here too?

My own opinion is don't do it, you are only cheating yourself. But then again, what do I know

[GeofT]

Actually the 'cheat sheet' is a good way to revise. Boil down all the stuff that you have trouble remembering, all the key points, put them on a tiny bit of paper. Learn that. Take a mock test/past paper. What did you get wrong/struggle with? Make another 'cheat sheet' and learn that.

When you want to cheat, think about where the end is. What are you working towards that you need to cheat. If you're at high school and you need the grades to get into college/university, if you're a good cheater, you probably won't get caught there either. Where you will get caught is a job, and there's money involved.

Treat school/college/university as a place where you go to learn stuff, and expand your mind. If you're not interested in that, leave. There are plenty of well paid occupations that don't require a degree.

[jakemcmillan]

Thanks for all the answers

I think cheating is a cop-out. I'm not familiar with Canada's education system, but I am familiar with California's, particularly the social-studies curriculum. Content standards have gotten out of hand here too, and we are forced to "teach to the test," but that's no excuse for cheating. Content material aside, the habits you form now will stay with you in the future. And, frankly, if you think it's hard now and cheating is your only hope for a passing grade, then I hope you don't have any plans for education beyond high school -- it doesn't get easier.

The difference between me and many people is that I won't form this cheating habit. I'm not struggling, but I'm also not going to go to university and take a socials course. I want a good grade in this class, not cheating not to fail.

I have the option of courses in university, so I will work my ass off because it is what I need to learn. I don't need to learn socials for my future, so I could care less if I learn it. That's why I make the cheat sheet, I don't like doing "unnecessary" work.

I can't picture cheating in socials class catching up to me.

I thought you meant cheating on your girlfriend Cheating on tests is like cheating on SL 5x5, very bad.

Haha, no never done that. Never cheated with girlfriend or stronglift's. No cheating on important things, socials just isn't important to me.

[mackanno]

If you are going to cheat, how do expect to learn something? Better yet, what's the benefit of it?
Sure, cheating might be OK or not too serious of an issue for you in high school, but then, what are going to do in college? The same? What kind of profesional will you be if you just went to school for the paper?

[Dave70]

Hey, its a victimless crime so go for it. If you are shrewd enough to get away with, then more power to you.
As long as you can tolerate the ignominious exposure of being branded a 'cheat' publicly in full view of your peers and teachers ect should you be caught, there's nothing to worry about.

Like Mr Burns said:
'Cheating is the gift a man gives himself'..

[JasonLB]

I have the option of courses in university, so I will work my ass off because it is what I need to learn. I don't need to learn socials for my future, so I could care less if I learn it.

That's debatable. The intrinsic importance of the subject aside, I'm assuming universities in Canada operate similarly to universities in the US? -- well, if they do, then you can expect roughly two years of courses that you don't need for your future. A number of which, by the way, will assume you have learned certain basic things in high school, including things in socials.

That's why I make the cheat sheet, I don't like doing "unnecessary" work.

All I'm suggesting is that you might want to broaden your definition of necessary things to know.

I can't picture cheating in socials class catching up to me.

Well, it might not; but, then again, it might. Like someone else pointed out, it's a victimless crime, so do what you wish.

[jakemcmillan]

If you are going to cheat, how do expect to learn something? Better yet, what's the benefit of it?
Sure, cheating might be OK or not too serious of an issue for you in high school, but then, what are going to do in college? The same? What kind of profesional will you be if you just went to school for the paper?

The benefit would be the better mark. I don't expect to cheat in college because by then I will be narrowing down and specializing in something. No room for cheating there.

@Jason, thanks for the replies. I'm guessing universities in Canada work the same as US. And I would think I could re-learn socials if I know the basics from high school. It's not like I'll forget it all, I put a lot of effort into cheat sheets...to the point I remember lots of it anyway. And you're right, I might want to broaden my idea of necessary things to know. I'll think about that.

@Dave, lol, good way to put it. I'm the only victim if I get caught. I'm absolutely f'ed if I get caught though. I like the quote.

[StevieB]

How do you feel about cheating on tests? Not life in general.

Its wrong no matter how you try to pathetically justify it

BTW, You're much higher cheated grade affects everyone else if curved marking applies.
I say much higher because without cheating you just wont do well, hence you're need to cheat