Use of old exams..wrong?

[Chemdude]

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I just found out that a bunch of my Physics 2 classmates (who aren’t that bright) have been receiving 90%+ grades on their exams. They have old exams and are not willing to share them. The professor, for some reason (laziness), is notorious for not changing his exams. I have not been able to get a hold of any of his old exams. They are really screwing up the curve because the rest of the class is bombing the course. Should I confront the professor?

 

[kevinmw5]

Hmm usually when my classes have old exams out it's because the prof changes the tests.

I usually don't use the old exams - a bunch of tutoring places around campus have them and will go over them with you...for a small fee of course.

You could always just suck it up and perform better than them by knowing how to solve the problems...

 

[MilkmanAl]

Honestly, I would play the game and get ahold of copies of that test unless there's some rule prohibiting you from doing so.

 

[ami1983]

old exams= study guide. the professor can (and usually does) change the test. how did anyone study for the MCAT without old practice and real MCATs? you need to get buddy buddy with those people who have the tests and get in the game.

 

[gujuDoc]

Sadly I have encountered much of the same in my life. I remember there was a bio 2 professor who never changed his tests. everyone would study the old tests just to get As.

I know so many students at my university who had 3.7+ GPAs because they took the easiest classes, classes where old tests were available, classes where they were online and a joke but counted as science courses etc.

Sure these people had high GPAs but when it came down to the MCAT they were the ones who failed it miserably and bombed it. I know people with close to 4.0s who couldn't even get a 20 on the MCAT. And I know people with 3.7+s or 3.6+s who couldnt get past a 26 on the MCAT. I also know people with 3.7+s who couldn't even get a 24 minimum requirement at some MD schools.

So it comes back to bite them in the rear end. Thank god for Karma.

 

[gujuDoc]

old exams= study guide. the professor can (and usually does) change the test. how did anyone study for the MCAT without old practice and real MCATs? you need to get buddy buddy with those people who have the tests and get in the game.

This was true in biochem at my school but not so much for biomedical physics or medical botany or bio 2 at my university. The professors teaching these courses used most of the same questions if not all of the same questions out of laziness so people would cheat this way.

 

[cpants]

Yes it's wrong. If they were out there for everyone to use it would be fine. The fact is a few people are getting an unfair advantage on the exams. They can effectively memorize the answers to a few questions and not actually learn the subject. My advice would be to inform the professor that there are copies of the old exams floating around. He probably doesn't know this is happening, and he will level the playing field by changing the exam questions on future tests.

 

[njbmd]

I just found out that a bunch of my Physics 2 classmates (who aren’t that bright) have been receiving 90%+ grades on their exams. They have old exams and are not willing to share them. The professor, for some reason (laziness), is notorious for not changing his exams. I have not been able to get a hold of any of his old exams. They are really screwing up the curve because the rest of the class is bombing the course. Should I confront the professor?

First of all, you don't know the IQ measurements of other individuals in your class. Second, either you have mastered the material or you haven't. It sounds like you haven't mastered the material and you feel the need to "put down" the folks who have mastered the material. Third, if you take the approach that you seem to be taking toward your fellow classmates, it is no wonder that they are not willing to share materials with you. Finally, figure out a way to master the material without old exams because clearly, you don't have access to them. The thing is what it is. Be realistic, mature and pragmatic. If you have to depend on attempting to memorize old exams to pass a course, you aren't mastering the material. Confronting the professor isn't going to help you much especially in the future when you might need that information for other coursework. Try to stop whining about your classmate's IQs and figure out a way to get the job done.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

If they are out there, use em

 

[gujuDoc]

First of all, you don't know the IQ measurements of other individuals in your class. Second, either you have mastered the material or you haven't. It sounds like you haven't mastered the material and you feel the need to "put down" the folks who have mastered the material. Third, if you take the approach that you seem to be taking toward your fellow classmates, it is no wonder that they are not willing to share materials with you. Finally, figure out a way to master the material without old exams because clearly, you don't have access to them. The thing is what it is. Be realistic, mature and pragmatic. If you have to depend on attempting to memorize old exams to pass a course, you aren't mastering the material. Confronting the professor isn't going to help you much especially in the future when you might need that information for other coursework. Try to stop whining about your classmate's IQs and figure out a way to get the job done.

As someone who has seen half of my university use old exams to get As where it has clearly been proven that certain professors don't change questions on the exams, I can tell you not everyone has a high IQ who is getting those As. they are not mastering the material. They are mastering how to get by at any cost. This true at a lot of state schools esp. mine.

But as I said before, their true capabilities are questioned when karma comes back to bite them in the rear end as they fail the MCAT miserably or get enough for a DO school but not for an MD school in the states.

 

[gujuDoc]

Yes it's wrong. If they were out there for everyone to use it would be fine. The fact is a few people are getting an unfair advantage on the exams. They can effectively memorize the answers to a few questions and not actually learn the subject. My advice would be to inform the professor that there are copies of the old exams floating around. He probably doesn't know this is happening, and he will level the playing field by changing the exam questions on future tests.

AGREED👍👍

 

[nVictus]

Some of you guys are on the edge of douchebaggery. Stop whining about someone else and worry about yourself. If you're not making an A, figure out what you're doing wrong (not studying enough or you lack social engineering to get the old tests) people do the same thing in med school (use old tests) but do you think people rat out their own classmates? No.

 

[Lukkie]

welcome to college

 

[UVAbme2009]

Does the professor say either way if they are allowed or not? You should just ask them if they are allowed. I had a professor who allowed us to use old tests to study for. Only problem was that he stopped giving them back after the test the year before we took the class. Of course some people were able to get their hands on a few copies. The guy changed NOTHING on the tests The tests weren't hard in the first place, but I found it hilarious that he essentially challenged us to find old tests.

 

[Chemdude]

First of all, you don't know the IQ measurements of other individuals in your class. Second, either you have mastered the material or you haven't. It sounds like you haven't mastered the material and you feel the need to "put down" the folks who have mastered the material. Third, if you take the approach that you seem to be taking toward your fellow classmates, it is no wonder that they are not willing to share materials with you. Finally, figure out a way to master the material without old exams because clearly, you don't have access to them. The thing is what it is. Be realistic, mature and pragmatic. If you have to depend on attempting to memorize old exams to pass a course, you aren't mastering the material. Confronting the professor isn't going to help you much especially in the future when you might need that information for other coursework. Try to stop whining about your classmate's IQs and figure out a way to get the job done.

Firstly, I know the that the students who are getting 90+ grades are not getting these grades out of hard work/mastering the material; one of them has told me that they have the previous tests! I also know for a fact that they haven't mastered the material because they have been continuously asking for my help with homework assignments (I guess I'm not going to help them out anymore).

Secondly, I appreciate your advice about being “mature and pragmatic”, but I don’t think you were right about me not mastering the material. Personally, I think I have mastered the material (I can practically solve every problem in the book). The exam was not a fair assessment, and the students who had the previous exams were at a clear advantage.

 

[cpants]

Some of you guys are on the edge of douchebaggery. Stop whining about someone else and worry about yourself. If you're not making an A, figure out what you're doing wrong (not studying enough or you lack social engineering to get the old tests) people do the same thing in med school (use old tests) but do you think people rat out their own classmates? No.

Your grade in a physics class should have nothing to do with "social engineering" enabling you to get the answers before a test. People using old tests does hurt you and does lessen your chance of getting an A.

As far as your med school assertion, you are plain wrong. People do not use old tests in med school, as it is a breach of the honor code at every school. I'm sure it happens on rare occasions, but I have never seen or heard of it in any med school class. In medical school, you have an obligation to turn people in for using old testing materials. Why? Because in med school this behavior could actually harm future patients. No one gets hurt if you don't learn physics, but people can get killed if you don't learn pharmacology.

 

[Chemdude]

Some of you guys are on the edge of douchebaggery. Stop whining about someone else and worry about yourself. If you're not making an A, figure out what you're doing wrong (not studying enough or you lack social engineering to get the old tests) people do the same thing in med school (use old tests) but do you think people rat out their own classmates? No.

If other students using an old exam was not going to affect me in any way, then I would not care. The thing is, the class is curved: they are screwing me over.

And I never said that i would rat them out.

 

[teddybear]

First of all, you don't know the IQ measurements of other individuals in your class. Second, either you have mastered the material or you haven't. It sounds like you haven't mastered the material and you feel the need to "put down" the folks who have mastered the material. Third, if you take the approach that you seem to be taking toward your fellow classmates, it is no wonder that they are not willing to share materials with you. Finally, figure out a way to master the material without old exams because clearly, you don't have access to them. The thing is what it is. Be realistic, mature and pragmatic. If you have to depend on attempting to memorize old exams to pass a course, you aren't mastering the material. Confronting the professor isn't going to help you much especially in the future when you might need that information for other coursework. Try to stop whining about your classmate's IQs and figure out a way to get the job done.

He doesn't sound like he's whining to me. It is wrong for his classmates to find an advantage and then be unwilling to share the wealth. End of discussion.

 

[nVictus]

Your grade in a physics class should have nothing to do with "social engineering" enabling you to get the answers before a test. People using old tests does hurt you and does lessen your chance of getting an A.

As far as your med school assertion, you are plain wrong. People do not use old tests in med school, as it is a breach of the honor code at every school. I'm sure it happens on rare occasions, but I have never seen or heard of it in any med school class. In medical school, you have an obligation to turn people in for using old testing materials. Why? Because in med school this behavior could actually harm future patients. No one gets hurt if you don't learn physics, but people can get killed if you don't learn pharmacology.

it shouldnt but does it? yeah. that's college and real life. my med school assertion is very right. i dont know about your school in paticular, but i know of several top 20 institutions who have students that use old exams; and im in texas, you can guess which ones they are.

and OP, i wasnt directing my comments directly at you, just other people who like to whine.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I dare you to snitch. Tell the teacher and then report back with how it went for ya.

 

[FSAP]

It's E&M. Exams are always gonna be similar to the old ones. What I don't understand is why your professor does not post them for everybody. What you should do is explain to him that availability of exams to limited group of students via third party creates an uneven playing field and that it's his responsibility to release old exams.

 

[lol.psych]

Send an anonymous message to the professor (create a new email account), telling hir(him/her/etc) that there are copies of old tests floating around, and that many students have been using them to ace the current tests rather than learning the material, thereby putting the rest of the students at an unfair disadvantage. Suggest that ze(she/he/etc) change the future tests so as to keep cheating down.

This way, you don't get b*tched at for snitching, don't have to call anyone out, and still get your point across.

 

[Chemdude]

I dare you to snitch. Tell the teacher and then report back with how it went for ya.

I'm not really a fan of that type of drama. I don't want to snitch. If I was going to tell the professor about this, I would do it anonymously. It looks like you just want to hear an amusing story about someone getting in trouble:

I remember when in Winter Semester, a bunch of people got in big trouble for having finals. It was really horrible and they had complex system of cheating methods. The process went something like this:
1. You asked for a specific final
2. The “exam mafia” got you the specific final by having a janitor/staff person steal it
3. You pay $150
4. The night before the final you get invited over to a random house in the city
5. While at the house, you scramble through the copy of the final (with about 10 other people). Of course, you were always supervised and were not allowed to have cell phone on you.
6. You ace the exam the next morning.

The school found out and some people got expelled.

I’m not sure if this happens anywhere else….It’s amazing to see how far people will go just for an A.

 

[Ella Shepherd]

I just found out that a bunch of my Physics 2 classmates (who aren’t that bright) have been receiving 90%+ grades on their exams. They have old exams and are not willing to share them. The professor, for some reason (laziness), is notorious for not changing his exams. I have not been able to get a hold of any of his old exams. They are really screwing up the curve because the rest of the class is bombing the course. Should I confront the professor?

Yes, you should tell the professor. It's okay to use old exams if the questions won't be used again in the next ones. What your classmates are doing, however, is cheating. You have to report them.

 

[FSAP]

Send an anonymous message to the professor (create a new email account), telling hir(him/her/etc) that there are copies of old tests floating around, and that many students have been using them to ace the current tests rather than learning the material, thereby putting the rest of the students at an unfair disadvantage. Suggest that he change his future tests so as to keep cheating down.

This way, you don't get b*tched at for snitching, don't have to call anyone out, and still get your point across.

Anonymous letter will do nothing. Probably won't even be read. You gotta man up and tell it like it is. Snitching? What kinda Chestertown gangsta **** is that? You are not in middle school.

 

[Jolie South]

It's E&M. Exams are always gonna be similar to the old ones. What I don't understand is why your professor does not post them for everybody. What you should do is explain to him that availability of exams to limited group of students via third party creates an uneven playing field and that it's his responsibility to release old exams.

at my med school, we're not permitted to talk about what's on the multiple choice exams. we're never even allowed to see them again once they're done.

however, we do receive a copy of the answers to histology and anatomy practicals. we're not supposed to distribute them, but somehow some first years got copies of old tests. when our prof found out, he distributed the last 3 years of exams via e-mail to the entire class. he used this exact reasoning. i think it's true.

 

[Ella Shepherd]

I'm not really a fan of that type of drama. I don't want to snitch. If I was going to tell the professor about this, I would do it anonymously. It looks like you just want to hear an amusing story about someone getting in trouble:

I remember when in Winter Semester, a bunch of people got in big trouble for having finals. It was really horrible and they had complex system of cheating methods. The process went something like this:
1. You asked for a specific final
2. The “exam mafia” got you the specific final by having a janitor/staff person steal it
3. You pay $150
4. The night before the final you get invited over to a random house in the city
5. While at the house, you scramble through the copy of the final (with about 10 other people). Of course, you were always supervised and were not allowed to have cell phone on you.
6. You ace the exam the next morning.

The school found out and some people got expelled.

I’m not sure if this happens anywhere else….It’s amazing to see how far people will go just for an A.

Wow. 😱 If only they spent as much amount of energy in studying as they did in finding ways to cheat...

 

[ami1983]

I'm not really a fan of that type of drama. I don't want to snitch. If I was going to tell the professor about this, I would do it anonymously. It looks like you just want to hear an amusing story about someone getting in trouble:

I remember when in Winter Semester, a bunch of people got in big trouble for having finals. It was really horrible and they had complex system of cheating methods. The process went something like this:
1. You asked for a specific final
2. The “exam mafia” got you the specific final by having a janitor/staff person steal it
3. You pay $150
4. The night before the final you get invited over to a random house in the city
5. While at the house, you scramble through the copy of the final (with about 10 other people). Of course, you were always supervised and were not allowed to have cell phone on you.
6. You ace the exam the next morning.

The school found out and some people got expelled.

I’m not sure if this happens anywhere else….It’s amazing to see how far people will go just for an A.

wow, that is some cray cray. sounds like sweet valley high drama.

 

[kevinmw5]

i dare you to snitch. Tell the teacher and then report back with how it went for ya.

+1

 

[lol.psych]

Anonymous letter will do nothing. Probably won't even be read. You gotta man up and tell it like it is. Snitching? What kinda Chestertown gangsta **** is that? You are not in middle school.

No, I'm not (and the OP isn't) in middle school. If the OP is having a hard time deciding what to do, the issue probably isn't SHOULD I TELL ON EVERYONE AND GIVE EVERYONE'S NAMES TO THE PROFESSOR vs. SHOULD I KEEP QUIET AND LET THIS KEEP HAPPENING. The ideal answer, if the OP is having a really hard time deciding what to do, is probably somewhere in the middle. My suggestion allows the OP to let the professor know that people are cheating without outing anyone specific. I think that's a happy medium.

If you think the email won't be read if it's from a gmail or yahoo account, you (you being the OP) can get another student who is NOT enrolled in the class (but still has a youschool.edu email address) to send an email - being like "I have heard from many sources that students in your class are cheating by using old exams, you might want to look into changing your exams from year to year to prevent this". If the professor doesn't bite, it's hir problem that nobody's learning ****. If the professor still doesn't change the policy/exams, you could go to the dean of students/academics/whatever or the department chair and let them know.

 

[BTC]

Send an anonymous message to the professor (create a new email account), telling hir(him/her/etc) that there are copies of old tests floating around, and that many students have been using them to ace the current tests rather than learning the material, thereby putting the rest of the students at an unfair disadvantage. Suggest that ze(she/he/etc) change the future tests so as to keep cheating down.

This way, you don't get b*tched at for snitching, don't have to call anyone out, and still get your point across.

I like this but you should suggest the test only be changed slightly so the people with the old tests who don't read the entire question put down the wrong answers and it becomes readily obvious who they are.

Does your school have an honor code? If it does, read it. You may be ethically obligated to report them.

Why is it douchebaggery to be concerned with cheaters? Three kids are screwing up the curve for a class of 30+. That's a big deal. That means at least 27 people are being punished for some kids cheating and having an edge. Call the them out.

 

[gujuDoc]

Firstly, I know the that the students who are getting 90+ grades are not getting these grades out of hard work/mastering the material; one of them has told me that they have the previous tests! I also know for a fact that they haven't mastered the material because they have been continuously asking for my help with homework assignments (I guess I'm not going to help them out anymore).

Secondly, I appreciate your advice about being “mature and pragmatic”, but I don’t think you were right about me not mastering the material. Personally, I think I have mastered the material (I can practically solve every problem in the book). The exam was not a fair assessment, and the students who had the previous exams were at a clear advantage.

Don't worry. Karma comes around to bite these kids in the butt. At my school the same kids doing this was the same kids that got scores like 18 and 19 on the MCAT. Or in some cases 20-23. These kids went to the carribbean or DO school but couldn't get into an MD school.

The ones who will get in an MD school, if they try it in med school may end up also doing bad when it comes to the boards if they don't know their stuff. So yeah. Karma does come back to people. Some of the same kids saying these were the ones who wanted to do things like derm and the most competitive specialities. the ones who got into med school got board scores that were above average but no where nearwhat they needed for being able to pick any specialty they wanted.

Life is a bitch but usually people get their come uppance often without others ratting them out.

Don't rat out the specific names but say that it has come to your attn that people have old exams and that you might want to change the questions up.

The bio 2 professor tht was using old exams started eventually changing questions when he realized people were leaving the test in 5 min. because they all knew the answers.

 

[gujuDoc]

it shouldnt but does it? yeah. that's college and real life. my med school assertion is very right. i dont know about your school in paticular, but i know of several top 20 institutions who have students that use old exams; and im in texas, you can guess which ones they are.

and OP, i wasnt directing my comments directly at you, just other people who like to whine.

I wasn't whining either. Just pointing out the fact that a lot of people who have high GPAs at my school aren't necessarily more competent or better at the material so much as they are more resourceful and sly about how they get where they do. But things evened out in the end.

 

[gujuDoc]

at my med school, we're not permitted to talk about what's on the multiple choice exams. we're never even allowed to see them again once they're done.

however, we do receive a copy of the answers to histology and anatomy practicals. we're not supposed to distribute them, but somehow some first years got copies of old tests. when our prof found out, he distributed the last 3 years of exams via e-mail to the entire class. he used this exact reasoning. i think it's true.

at our university's medical school they don't allow students to keep the exams. They give them their multiple choice sheets back but that only has letters and not questions. the questions they can look at in the office but can't take home. So by the time they are done, I doubt they can remember exact questions and choices to tell students.

 

[nVictus]

But things evened out in the end.

exactly. people can't use old tests forever. imo, once you reach a certain point, it's more about being resourceful than anything

 

[BTC]

So, please explain how things evened out for the people who were put at a competitive disadvantage in their courses. Sure, the cheaters got what was coming, but I don't see any deferred benefit for the people who had to endure an unfair grading curve.

 

[nVictus]

the benefit that those who didnt use the old exams got was a life lesson that people cheat and you shouldnt worry about anyone but yourself and also to "get along to get along"

 

[gujuDoc]

So, please explain how things evened out for the people who were put at a competitive disadvantage in their courses. Sure, the cheaters got what was coming, but I don't see any deferred benefit for the people who had to endure an unfair grading curve.

A lot of those that didn't cheat and did well eventually were the ones that did well on the MCAT and other more important exams and got into med school.

Most of the cheaters who were in our school or more vicious kind of gunners that tried to screw students over never got into an MD school in the states. they were forced into the carribean schools or DO schools for a shot. And those are the ones that got into any sort of school. More often then not, most couldn't even get into med school and ended up having to do something else with their life. So that' how it evened out.

 

[gujuDoc]

exactly. people can't use old tests forever. imo, once you reach a certain point, it's more about being resourceful than anything

good point.

 

[ANF1986]

I like this but you should suggest the test only be changed slightly so the people with the old tests who don't read the entire question put down the wrong answers and it becomes readily obvious who they are.

Does your school have an honor code? If it does, read it. You may be ethically obligated to report them.

Why is it douchebaggery to be concerned with cheaters? Three kids are screwing up the curve for a class of 30+. That's a big deal. That means at least 27 people are being punished for some kids cheating and having an edge. Call the them out.

Yea...if the class wasn't curved and they were just doing well without having an effect on anyone else, then it shouldn't even matter to you. However, I can see the OP's concerns.

 

[JokerMD]

welcome to the REAL WORLD where people cheat and get away with it. (btw, this is not just restricted to exams, but exists at every segment of society-current economic problems?)

if i were you, i would find the exams, or study your ass off so you can get up there on the curve. and by study your ass, i don't mean just doing all the problems in the textbook. use MULTIPLE texts and know how to derive EVERY SINGLE equation from complete scratch (F=ma, then continue). People do this at my undergrad too, but I usually just study my ass off and do well.

 

[shaggybill]

Why is it douchebaggery to be concerned with cheaters? Three kids are screwing up the curve for a class of 30+. That's a big deal. That means at least 27 people are being punished for some kids cheating and having an edge. Call the them out.

Exactly. He wouldn't be telling on them simply because they are getting better grades. He's telling because they are screwing up the curve. Karma might get the cheaters in the end, but that won't fix the OP's grade due to a messed up curve.

 

[chiz2kul]

Yes yes yes edge of douchebaggery is so right.
This is a really grey area here. If the prof KNOWS about the old tests, but doesnt do anything about it, (for laziness or just cos he wants to help, and you are too lazy to help yourself), then there is nothing wrong w it.
You can either sharpen up your social and askin skills, and get those tests (mayb cos you are a jerk thats y the kids dont wanna help you), or you can study like crazy and act like the genius that you think you are and ace the class.
KARMA ALWAYS WORKS. It'll def come back n bite those kids in the end. Something similar like that happened to me in my gen chem class, and it sure did come back and get me somehow.
BUT there is nothing wrong. Those kids were smart to figure out how to get those old tests and use them as a study guide.
Stop hating.
Gosh sdn for sure is full of smart jerks that think that everything must go their way or is wrong.
Get over it.

 

[BTC]

welcome to the REAL WORLD where people cheat and get away with it. (btw, this is not just restricted to exams, but exists at every segment of society-current economic problems?)

if i were you, i would find the exams, or study your ass off so you can get up there on the curve. and by study your ass, i don't mean just doing all the problems in the textbook. use MULTIPLE texts and know how to derive EVERY SINGLE equation from complete scratch (F=ma, then continue). People do this at my undergrad too, but I usually just study my ass off and do well.

Cheater.

 

[JokerMD]

Cheater.

huh? 😕

 

[Blesbok]

Firstly, I know the that the students who are getting 90+ grades are not getting these grades out of hard work/mastering the material; one of them has told me that they have the previous tests! I also know for a fact that they haven't mastered the material because they have been continuously asking for my help with homework assignments (I guess I'm not going to help them out anymore).

Secondly, I appreciate your advice about being “mature and pragmatic”, but I don’t think you were right about me not mastering the material. Personally, I think I have mastered the material (I can practically solve every problem in the book). The exam was not a fair assessment, and the students who had the previous exams were at a clear advantage.

No, if you mastered the material, you would have gotten an A on the test. Obviously, you did not.

Second, the world isn't fair. Just because someone is taking advantage of the situation given to them, doesn't mean that they are suddenly cheating. Short of him stating "You are not allowed to use old tests to studyfrom and to do so is a violation of the honor code and school policy", they have done nothing wrong. Going to the professor will just make you look like an idiot. Don't be a gunner. If you weren't the type of person that would taddle on your classmates, they might actually be more willing to share with you.

 

[cpants]

No, if you mastered the material, you would have gotten an A on the test. Obviously, you did not.

Second, the world isn't fair. Just because someone is taking advantage of the situation given to them, doesn't mean that they are suddenly cheating. Short of him stating "You are not allowed to use old tests to studyfrom and to do so is a violation of the honor code and school policy", they have done nothing wrong. Going to the professor will just make you look like an idiot. Don't be a gunner. If you weren't the type of person that would taddle on your classmates, they might actually be more willing to share with you.

The ones being gunners are the people hoarding the old exams. Gunners try to get an unfair advantage over classmates. The OP is right not wanting to be on the losing end of this. All he wants is for everyone to take an exam they haven't seen before.

Since presumably these people are doing nothing wrong, there is nothing wrong with letting the professor know that people are using exams. Right? Or do you admit that using exams which only you have access to and which are identical to the current exams is pretty shady?

 

[MaryLennox]

i think there are ways to handle this without being a total douche. i'd just ask the prof if he approves of using old tests or not. if he says not, then the answer is, 'i was just wondering because i know that some people are doing this.' if it is allowed then i would just do what everyone else is saying and find a way to get yourself a copy.

if its true that these people won't share with you (assuming you aren't the a-hole, they are) then that is weak. I've had old tests before and while I didnt go around advertising it, if anyone asked to see it or make a copy i always said yes. because personally i feel that being a jerk and not sharing is just asking to get ratted out. it would be one thing if the OP just overheard them talking about it and ratted them out. but if he asked them to share and they refuse then they should know it could come back and bite them in the butt.

for what its worth, i've been in classes before where the prof knows that there are old tests floating around. but instead of making it harder, they just keep the old question and change one or two specific details of the question- so it LOOKS the same but is not. i think this is a good approach because it weeds out the people who simply memorized the answer from the people who just used the old tests as a jumping-off point for what to study and practice. (which of course is what you should be using old tests for anyway!!)

edited to add: if the prof really is too lazy to change the test at all, this seems like the real problem that should be addressed. allowed or not, copies of tests happen and the best way to prevent this situation is for your prof to actually do the job he's paid to do. although it is too late to benefit you now, you ought to mention it in your class evaluation at the end. (or if you dont have class evals then maybe mention it to the head of the dept or something.)

 

[Chemdude]

No, if you mastered the material, you would have gotten an A on the test. Obviously, you did not.

Second, the world isn't fair. Just because someone is taking advantage of the situation given to them, doesn't mean that they are suddenly cheating. Short of him stating "You are not allowed to use old tests to studyfrom and to do so is a violation of the honor code and school policy", they have done nothing wrong. Going to the professor will just make you look like an idiot. Don't be a gunner. If you weren't the type of person that would taddle on your classmates, they might actually be more willing to share with you.

wow...weak...I can't believe you just said that. I clearly said that the test was not a fair assessment. An EM test which is 14 pages with only 55 minutes to finish is not a fair assessment. The professor himself even admitted the test was "too long." I didn't even mention the grade I got, so why are you discussing me mastering the material? Maybe, if these people wouldn't have cheated by using old exams, I would have ended up with an A(again, the class is based on a curve).

AND I NEVER SAID I WAS GOING TO "TADDLE" ON MY CLASSMATES.

Anyway, I've decided to contact the prof. anonymously and tell him about this. I'm not going call out any specific names. Hopefully he changes the next test…that way, it's fair for everyone.

 

[nVictus]

which would be easier for you and lessen your stress:

1. study super hard and ace the test

2. get old exams, study a little bit, ace the test

it's gotta be 2. this is why im all for the usage of old exams... because im confident enough in my abilities to make an A without old tests but too efficient (read: lazy) not to use old exams.

it will catch up to the people who dont have the brains for med school.... whether it's the mcat or the usmle.... it will catch up to them. in the meantime, however, just make it easier for yourself 🙂