I’m in sort of a panic right now because this issue has been bugging me for a while and I don’t know what to do.
I took the AP Chemistry test this year, and my friend had sat next to me during the test. We are both very strong in the field of chemistry, and I’m sure he could definitely score a 3, and possibly a 4 on his own. After the test, however, he told me that he copied off of my entire multiple choice section. I thought he was joking at first because I wouldn’t have expected him to cheat, so I lied to him that I had changed 15 answers at the end just to see his reaction. He then told me that he saw me change answers at the end, but that I only changed 3 answers, which is true. He then described how he was able to cheat off of me and look at my answers without getting caught, so I’m certain he did cheat off of me now.
I’m concerned that my score might be canceled because of this cheating incident, and I’m wondering if I should contact college board about it. I have a feeling that even if they were to notice that our answers were exactly the same (excluding the 3 I changed at the end), they’d be able to determine that he was the one who copied off of me since I had work in my problem book while he doesn’t, and so I won’t be penalized, but at the same time I’m not too sure, and I’m not really willing to take chances. At the same time, I don’t want my identity to be leaked if I do contact college board about this.
What should I do in this situation? Also, is there an anonymous way to report this to college board?
Don’t they have empty desks between students? I would assume there are different versions like a,b and c. In any event While no expert, my guess is if you alerted them both scores would be cancelled not only for you two but everyone in the room. That is an awful situation to be in.
Students have tried to sabotage other students since the beginning of time. The CB will not deal with an anonymous report. A college admissions office will not deal with an anonymous report. If you want to report (which I would not) give your name.
You would assume incorrectly. For some subjects they do have scrambled MC sections, but not for chem.
Per CB rules, there has to be 5 feet between students.
So bottom line, if any incidents are reported and the CB ascertains that the students were not 5 feet apart, the whole room’s scores would likely be invalidated. Personally, I would let it go, and in the future, do a better job of protecting your own work.
@bjkmom We sat 5 feet apart from each other (we were at opposite ends of a 6 foot table), and we sat right in front of the test proctor, so I didn’t think I’d need to worry about people copying off my answers.
@scubadive We had 2 people per desk, which is 6 feet long, and the desks are separated by a good distance from each other. College Board requires at least 5 feet between any two test takers
For him to have copied your entire scantron from 5 feet away— I don’t know, sounds fishy. Aside from Superman and his Xray eyes, the AP 5 foot radius is enough that a typical kid would have a hard time reading those dots under normal circumstances.
Either he was lying for some reason, or your scantron was exceptionally easy for him to read for the entire test.
Seriously-- from where you are now, try to read the first letter in each row of a newspaper 5 feet away.
You can report it anonymously. At one of my S’s AP exams there was rampant cheating going on. Two students reported it anonymously. However, it resulted in everyone’s scores being cancelled. They had the opportunity to retest but it like 6-12 months later, so my S didn’t bother. He was mad though. He was certain he would have had a 5
I think that reporting your friend’s actions will only serve to call yours into question. I would cross my fingers and toes and eyes and kidneys that no one notices. And from this point on, cover your answer sheet during every test and quiz.
I’m still trying to figure out why your friend told you he had done this? It wasn’t doing you any favors. And I agree with others who’ve replied - it is hard to imagine that he was able to copy every answer accurately, including the three on which you changed your responses? Something does seem wrong.
@Aug2019 He chose not to copy the responses I changed, and just left them as they were so that it’s less obvious he cheated. In other words, our multiple choice section is pretty much identical with the exception of about 5 questions.
Also, does anyone know what the consequences would be if College Board does notice the cheating? Would both our scores get canceled or just his? It’s quite obvious he was the one who cheated because I have all my work in my booklet while he has nothing.
“It’s quite obvious he was the one who cheated because I have all my work in my booklet while he has nothing.”
I agree that evidence would be quite damning, but how do you really know what is in his book if you weren’t peeking, which could also be considered cheating?
The OP is also a Boy Scout working on his Eagle according to some previous posts. I would suggest that he look at the Scout Oath and Law to see what he should do in this case.
If you are morally straight, confess with your full name and say what actually happened.
Honestly, the entire room’s scores could get invalidated because of a faulty testing environment. I think it’s dumb for you to report the cheater because you could hurt your scores and possibly others’. Also, remember that you reap what you sow. He might have copied and passed, but that doesn’t mean his actions won’t come back to bite him.
@Kemba7 Nothing suspicious was detected and everyone got their scores. In the future, I’ll be more careful when taking tests and make sure to cover my answers. @Florida25 I agree, I was thinking the same thing, and that’s why I decided not to report the cheater. I find it selfish for me to report him and risk canceling everyone else’s scores. It’s just not worth it to put everyone’s score in jeopardy just because of my fear of my own score getting canceled.