Using past exams as study aids : cheating or acceptable practice?

Abstract

Given the diverse opinions about cheating between faculty and students, the present study sought to determine if there was a significant difference between students' and faculty's views of using past exams as a study guide for future tests. Results indicated that faculty typically do not tell their students that using past exams to study is a form of cheating and the majority of faculty remained neutral in their opinion of the appropriateness of using both past exam questions, and answers, as study aids. Students on the other hand, remained neutral in their opinion of using past exam answers, but tended to view using past exam questions as a less serious offense than faculty. Furthermore, students tended to use past exams to study even when told that it was dishonest.