Being accused of academic dishonesty

So a few days back I got my physics midterm back and I went over it with one of my friends. While going over the test, I changed one of the answers without even thinking about it, it was like a scribble, just making notes but I was stupid enough not using a different pen. Later when I went over the test on my own because my professor said that we could have points back if there’s any questionable grading on the midterm, I have already forgotten that I have changed the answer because I was extremely tired that day and I didn’t think much about it. So I went to her office and went over my test with her, I got some points back from the other stuff that I questioned, but when we got to the answer that I changed, she pulled up a scanned copy of my test and saw that it was altered. I immediately explained what has happened and apologized for it. But couple days later, she emailed me saying that she consulted with her boss and now she has filed a report for academic dishonesty. What are my chances of getting out it? I was so so so stupid for not using a different pen or even just not touching the test at all but I was so sleep deprived that day I really didn’t think much of it. Now I’m worried that because of this stupid mistake, it would leave a mark on my record and I will have a hard time finding a job after I graduate or getting into graduate schools. Sorry, this is so long!

Sorry OP, but this seems like a clear-cut case of intentional cheating based on the info. shared in your post.

Also, Academic Dishonesty could have a substantial impact on your chances of admission to graduate schools–just as you suspect.

To the college, it is hard to know if a student deliberately was trying to cheat or made a mistake like you said. Obviously they have had cheaters before hence the scanning.

They may believe your story…this time. But having this known by the Academic Dishonesty board doesn’t let you (or any students) get away with a story like this again.

When were you with your friend and when did the professor announce you could get additional points? If you can show you made the change before you knew you could get additional points, the board might take that into account.

Not if he “forgot” to mention it when requesting additional points for the changed/altered answer.

OP: Don’t make it any worse than need be. Remember the cover-up is often worse than the alleged crime.

@Publisher that’s not what I got from the OP. The professor went back over the ENTIRE test with the student. The student did not ask for questions back on that specific question. I can totally see how they could have forgotten about the notes they had written. That indicates a mistake, not intentional cheating.

IDK, but if it was in pen wouldn’t there be two “answers.” Or any remnants of the prior answer? I would just explain it and try for some level of understanding as a first offense. What kind of class gives you extra points after the fact anyway? Give me a break.

If there’s a grading error (I once lost 3% on a test even though I did the problem correctly) or the answer is subjective and the student can argue that their answer is also correct, then some professors will look at the test again and award back points as they see fit. I’m assuming that’s what the original post meant by “questionable grading”?

Nobody here will know. All you can do is try to explain your error.

It is not a case of extra credit. It is the student questioning deduction of points on an exam question(s). IME, the request for regrading is very very common in STEM-classes. At my college, the syllabi generally states the requests for regrading will be applied to the entire exam, not just the disputed question, and that a portion of corrected exams will be scanned before being distributed to students to discourage honor code violations.

In the OP’s case, it may have been an honest mistake, but it’s not us the s/he needs to convince.

It was in pencil so that’s why I forgot I have had a different answer before.

The professor also did not go over the entire test. The answer that I changed even if she didn’t notice it, it would raise my score by one point. that’s 0.5% in my total grade. No way I would jeopardize my future on 0.5% of my grade.

Like @skieurope said, no one here will know, you’ll have to face whatever process your school has. One piece of advice, don’t make excuses like being sleep deprived. Noone will care. Just explain the actual error.