What to know if you’re thinking about cheating in your assessment
KCLSU Advice is completely separate from King's. We offer free, impartial and confidential advice to all King’s students on issues affecting their studies. This includes students who have been accused of cheating in an assessment.
We know that students consider cheating in assessments for many different reasons. A common one is feeling like it’s the only way to pass or achieve the grade they need. Some students may feel under pressure because of visa requirements, finances, progression concerns or graduate job offers. We know these situations can be incredibly stressful, but cheating is a huge risk.
If you’ve been considering it during assessment season, we want you to be able to make an informed choice and understand the alternatives and consequences.
We’ll cover:
- What cheating is
- Options besides cheating
- Possible consequences of cheating
What is cheating?
Cheating is a form of academic misconduct and can happen in many different ways. Some examples are very clear, such as taking notes into an exam or paying someone else to complete an assessment. Others can be less obvious, such as using AI tools beyond what is permitted under King’s guidance.
What other options are there?
Submit a Mitigating Circumstances form
If you have been struggling to complete an assessment, you may wish to submit a mitigating circumstances form (MCF). You can submit an MCF before your deadline or exam date, or up to 7 calendar days afterwards. Outcomes can include having an exam deferred or receiving an extension to give you more time to revise or complete the assessment.
Mitigating Circumstances can include being unwell around your assessment period (including experiencing mental health difficulties), bereavement, significant illness of a friend or relative, or witnessing something traumatic. Many students experience mitigating circumstances without realising that they may be eligible for support from the university.
Sometimes students are hesitant to use the mitigating circumstances process because it may delay graduation or progression into the next academic year. This can feel especially stressful for students with visa considerations or graduate job offers. However, support is available. KCLSU Advice can help you understand how the policy applies to your circumstances, and King’s also offers specialist support through its Visa and Money & Housing services if needed. Whilst MCFs can sometimes delay your studies, cheating can lead to expulsion and prevent you from continuing your education at King’s altogether.
You can find out more about Mitigating Circumstances in our recent article.
Attempt your assessment honestly. Failure gives more options than cheating.
If you complete your assessment honestly and do not pass, you will usually have the opportunity for another attempt. Although a resit may be capped, you may be able to appeal to have the cap removed depending on your circumstances. If you fail a second or subsequent attempt, there may still be appeal options available.
KCLSU Advice can help you understand what your options might be if you fail an assessment. Trying your best and failing will generally be treated much more compassionately by King’s than being found to have cheated.
We understand that the idea of failing can feel overwhelming and may have very real consequences for students. However, attempting your assessment honestly gives you more options and support pathways than cheating does.
What are the consequences of cheating?
To be absolutely clear, cheating is a massive risk.
King’s takes academic integrity very seriously, and the possible outcomes of academic misconduct can be severe.
If you are found to have cheated in an assessment, possible outcomes include expulsion from King’s.
Even where expulsion is not the outcome, other penalties can still seriously affect your ability to continue your degree. For example, you may receive a mark of zero with no opportunity for a retake. Depending on your course requirements, this may affect your progression or ability to graduate.
If you have been accused of cheating, KCLSU Advice can help. Every case is unique, so we cannot guarantee outcomes. However, we can help you understand the process, explain your options, review your statements and support you during hearings.
We understand why students may consider cheating, or why some students may already have made that decision. Whatever your situation, KCLSU Advice is here to help you work out what to do next. Contact us for free, impartial and confidential advice.
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