Why students cheat in exams

Cheating in exams is on the increase in schools because students lack confidence in their ability, a university don has said.

Dr. Aliyu Alhaji Abubakar of the Dangote Business School, Bayero University, Kano, (BUK) said lack of self confidence by students and intense pressure to score high grades have led to examination malpractice.

“Students commonly cheat because they are stressed, not self-confident or they just don’t know the subject. They have a misconception that technology/classmate/wikipedia knows better, but it usually leads to vice versa consequences. Another reason to cheat is laziness. They are too lazy to prepare for tests or exams, so they try to find simpler ways to pass,” he said.

Dr. Aliyu further said question paper leakage was another way of cheating which appeared to defy all solutions, adding that its persistence despite methods of blocking it was an indication of the malaise and corruption in society. He said cheating was not only about student behaviour; but that some teachers also encouraged it.