Cheaters in Testing Center take big risks
“Thank you, sir. I need that test.”
These are words no test taker wants to hear because they indicate a test monitor in the Testing Center has spotted something amiss.
“There is no room for cheaters here,” said Jim Ellis, OCCC Testing Center director. Ellis said about 20 people a semester get caught cheating on an exam.
Ellis said no particular groups or types of students cheat any more than others.
All departments of the school have had cheaters in the Testing Center.
Mitchell Gosey, a freshman in the nursing program, said he has never cheated in college and doesn’t know of anyone who has.
“It’s not worth it,” he said.
Students asked about cheating said no degree program is important enough to warrant cheating on a test.
“No one should cheat, no matter what degree you are getting,” dentistry major Mahla Mohsencadeh said.
“If you cheat now, you might get stuck later.”
Many students said they believe they would be the ones who were getting cheated if someone in the same class decided to cheat.
Professors who expressed their views on cheating said that when students get caught cheating on one of their tests, they would be wise to withdraw.
Professors said they would give cheaters the harshest penalties allowed.
The Testing Center has computer monitors overlooking students taking tests, Ellis said.
Ellis also has audio speakers in his office that allow him to hear every noise in the testing room, from noisy coughs to the slight rustling of paper.
Though these electronic devices catch people cheating, the human eye works best, Ellis said. When the camera or audio doesn’t detect something, real people can see sneakiness.
For instance, that trick with the answers on your hat probably isn’t going to work.
