Be Both Mentally and Affectively Prepared for the Testing Environment
In a group of students from any background or walk of life, there are those who would never cheat, those who would only cheat under extreme stress, and those who will cheat if clear protocols are not in place to prevent it. Given this reality, you will help your students, yourself, and the reputation of the College if you follow effective practices such as those below.

Preview the Test
Students should be aware of the content areas, the weight, the question types, the timing, and allowable resources (including asking you questions). They should have prior opportunity to ask you questions about the upcoming quiz, test, or exam.

Post Your Testing Expectations
Post a set of quiz/test/exam protocols in the course shell well before any such evaluations are held. Some students have claimed they did not know they could not talk, take out extra paper, etc.

Review Expectations in Class
One week before any evaluations review with the class how you will be ensuring a suitable environment and preventing academic offences. Go through the expectations on a set of slides. Refer students to the Library’s Academic Integrity pages highlighting the categories of cheating, aiding and abetting, and unscholarly behaviour.

Require ID
Require students to have their OneCards on their desks during each evaluation. Bring a clip board with the attendance list and check off each student present. We have had faculty suspect a student was writing for another student.

Ensure that Means for Cheating are Minimized
Instruct students to leave bags, coats, pencil cases, cell phones and anything else other than beverage and writing implements at the front or the back of the classroom. Don’t start a test until these requirements have been met. State that you are not responsible for any belongings. Never require students to place belongings in the hallway.

Time and Time Warnings
Display a clock on the screen so that students without their cell phones know the time. Provide a warning 10 minutes before time is up.

Document in Process
Tell the students you will make note of any abnormalities on the attendance list and Incident Tracking Sheet and will give only one warning for any talking or unscholarly behaviour. Have your cell phone recording the sound in the room and tell them that you are doing so. If a student speaks, makes hand signals or tapping noises again, alert them that you have noted the behaviour. Allow them to continue writing but follow up with an Academic Offence appropriate to the situation. Consult with Cory Scurr, Academic Integrity Coordinator, if you are unsure of next steps.

Confirm Test Completion
As each student hands in their test, check off their name. We have had some cases where a faculty knew a student was in the test but had no test later and the student claimed the faculty had lost it and demanded a re-write.

Enforce Protocols
Once you have set reasonable protocols for before, during, and after the test, follow through with insisting that students follow them. Establishing credibility from the beginning will help reduce cheating going forward. This can be done firmly but cheerfully – you will not be causing undo stress.

Report Academic Offenses
The best way to reduce cheating is to be consistent in dealing with instances of cheating as they arise. Students talk to each other, and any instance of cheating not dealt with encourages more cheating.

Don’t Take Cheating Personally

This sample list of instructions/protocols for your students can be augmented or modified for your exam setting.
Students are required to:

1. Observe any seating arrangement set up by the proctor (no moving tests to another spot).
2. Leave jackets, bags, pencil cases, cell phones, etc. at the front or the back of the class before the test begins. Hats with brims turned forward are not allowed.
3. Put your hand up if you have a question or if you need to leave the room. A proctor may escort you to the bathroom. The proctor will note who has left the room and the timing, and will usually allow only one student to leave at a time.
4. Not bring any extra paper to the exam. The proctor will provide any scratch paper you may require.
5. Not turn the test over until the professor says you may begin.
6. Not talk to or look at another student during the test. If you have a question, ask the proctor.
7. Not tap on the desk or make hand signals that may be construed as passing on information.
8. When the proctor announces that time is up, put your pen or pencil down on the desk and close the test. Follow any further instructions.

If you find that students are not heeding basic protocols, there are steps you can take to mitigate the behaviour. Various strategies, as well as monitoring and documenting problematic behaviours, helps discourage it.

1. Create extra copies of the test paper. Some faculty take the original paper and replace it with a fresh one telling the student to “carry on” and both will be looked at when an incident occurs.
2. Create different versions of the same test (you may have the same questions but reorder the sections and questions) and colour code them (for example, blue papers and yellow papers). Distribute the tests in a checkered pattern (blue yellow blue yellow etc.) so that no one is sitting next to another student with the same test.
3. Check the room, including looking under tables, before allowing entry to the room.
4. Bring a class list with the names of all students expected to take the test. Have them show their ID and sign in or take attendance as they enter.
5. Once the students have sat down, create a seating plan to document their positions relative to each other in the room. OR
6. Create a seating plan yourself beforehand, and have students sit in the arranged seat.
7. Create a template so that you can keep track of problematic or unusual behaviours (see below for a sample template).
8. Bring an audio recording device (e.g., cell phone) and turn it on for the duration of the test so that you show students you are monitoring their speaking.
9. If necessary, contact your Chair to request a proctor to assist you during the test/exam.

Here are some suggestions to help students have the best testing experience possible.

1. In class, or as homework before the test, provide the students with review opportunities that demonstrate what they will need to be able to do for the test.
2. Provide a sample or practice test.
3. Make sure that tables are empty of any extra materials before the test begins.
4. Begin the testing session with overall instructions to help students understand what is expected of them during the test. For example, you might suggest they look over the whole test to help plan their time. Wish them good success!
5. Explain to the students how to get your attention in order to ask you a question. Assure them that you are available for any questions if they don’t understand how to respond to a test prompt.
6. Encourage students to check with you if there is a word they don’t understand. Offer to “be the dictionary.” This ensures that you are testing the students’ skills rather than their language, and it will lower the temptation to speak to the student next to them.
7. Move to a student with a question and answer quietly – don’t allow questions and answers to be called across the room. Many students find this distracting.
8. Write your responses to questions on the white board so that all students can benefit from the extra information.
9. Spend the test time moving around the room or sitting in a location where all students can see you.
10. Don’t type while the students are writing the test – the noise of the keyboard can be distracting.
11. Check your shoes before the test – wear shoes that don’t make noise while you walk!

It is to everyone’s benefit for there to be a range of possible responses to questionable behaviours during a test. This allows the proctor to maintain academic integrity while allowing for the variations which can occur when students are stressed. Consult this resource on the possible behaviours and ranges of possible responses you may exhibit.