Weird question about "cheating".....

[bumpy]

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So I'm currently going back to school in hopes of getting in to med school one day. I am taking some pre-reqs over again. For one of my Biology classes, our professor issues a study guide for each chapter that will appear on the next test. We are supposed to fill them out ourselves from class notes. One of my classmates offered to send me what I thought were her study guides...just as a way of comparing what we had written. Anyway, I downloaded them to my computer and then proceeded to open them. Well, they were really good and well laid-out. However, at the end of them, unbeknownst to me there was a copy of what looked to be an old test with the answers from our professor over the chapters we were studying. When I saw this, I deleted the files. Am I in trouble? Is there a possibility that my university will accuse me of cheating should they open my emails and discover that I downloaded these files? I had NO idea that a copy of the old test was attached at the end. I know my classmate thought it was a helpful thing, but I'm now scared that it will look like I was cheating. Also, I noticed when I first opened the email that she had sent these study guides to numerous people, which scares me as well. I don't know if our professor reuses old tests. I just don't know what to think right now....

 

[Mr Roboto]

If you're not cheating you're not trying.

You didn't ask for an old test. And nothing in your post suggests that having an old test is against the rules.

Don't worry about it.

 

[Doctor Strange]

"Back tests" are not totally uncommon. A lot of professors (some of mine included) let students keep copies of the exam. These get passed down from year to year. Professors are generally aware of them. Heck, I even had some professors provide past exams for the class to download. It's another story, however, if this particular exam was stolen... Even then, I highly doubt the school is going through your e-mails.

 

[sunflower18]

Is that something that is unheard of at your school? At my school, in literally every single one of my science classes, the professor posted copies of old exams and keys online for us to study with. I had no idea that this wasn't a universal policy.

 

[kingjameslbj]

Is that something that is unheard of at your school? At my school, in literally every single one of my science classes, the professor posted copies of old exams and keys online for us to study with. I had no idea that this wasn't a universal policy.

🤣

 

[Boolean]

Is that something that is unheard of at your school? At my school, in literally every single one of my science classes, the professor posted copies of old exams and keys online for us to study with. I had no idea that this wasn't a universal policy.

I don't think I've ever had a professor do this...

 

[Goro]

Quit fussing; you're fine.

So I'm currently going back to school in hopes of getting in to med school one day. I am taking some pre-reqs over again. For one of my Biology classes, our professor issues a study guide for each chapter that will appear on the next test. We are supposed to fill them out ourselves from class notes. One of my classmates offered to send me what I thought were her study guides...just as a way of comparing what we had written. Anyway, I downloaded them to my computer and then proceeded to open them. Well, they were really good and well laid-out. However, at the end of them, unbeknownst to me there was a copy of what looked to be an old test with the answers from our professor over the chapters we were studying. When I saw this, I deleted the files. Am I in trouble? Is there a possibility that my university will accuse me of cheating should they open my emails and discover that I downloaded these files? I had NO idea that a copy of the old test was attached at the end. I know my classmate thought it was a helpful thing, but I'm now scared that it will look like I was cheating. Also, I noticed when I first opened the email that she had sent these study guides to numerous people, which scares me as well. I don't know if our professor reuses old tests. I just don't know what to think right now....

 

[sunflower18]

I don't think I've ever had a professor do this...

How strange! I mean, the old exams are obviously not the same at all as the new exams at my school -- maybe some professors at other schools reuse exams or exam questions?

 

[Boolean]

How strange! I mean, the old exams are obviously not the same at all as the new exams at my school -- maybe some all professors at other schools reuse exams or exam questions?

Edited for relevance 😛 A surprising number of professors at my school use test banks, so I feel that is likely the case.

 

[sunflower18]

Edited for relevance 😛 A surprising number of professors at my school use test banks, so I feel that is likely the case.

Ohhh. Yeah then that makes sense ... None of the professors at my school use test banks; I don't think I've ever taken a multiple choice science test at my school either (the MCAT was a struggle for that reason). It probably helps that all of my science classes have been under 20 students haha. I often forget about the differences between little schools and big ones.

 

[Boolean]

Ohhh. Yeah then that makes sense ... None of the professors at my school use test banks; I don't think I've ever taken a multiple choice science test at my school either (the MCAT was a struggle for that reason). It probably helps that all of my science classes have been under 20 students haha. I often forget about the differences between little schools and big ones.

Certainly. My school is among top 5 largest by enrollment in the nation. Things get a little crowded.

 

[Ezio]

One of my classes has all 3 midterms and finals on STUDYBLUE!