Caught Discussing Questions during Exam Break

Test Preparation AP Test Preparation
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<p>So, here's the story.</p>

<p>For just a bit of background:
It was after the AP Calculus Exam MC section, when we were given the 10-minute break. Now, our school is quite unconventional as there are only 150 kids in our high school, and so the number of people taking the exam was around 20. We all know each other, and the teachers know us - a general friendly relationship exists between the student body and the faculty. Oh, and it's a Christian school - faculty is very religious, abiding by morals without doubt.</p>

<p>What happened:
When break started, everyone exited the classroom (because we all fit in one classroom) and separated into groups. To do what? Discuss the MC Questions, of course. Now, I'm not sure about other schools, but talking about MC during the break is very prevalent - everyone talks about the test (except the really Christian ones and those who don't care about what they get). So my friends and I started discussing the MC. Then, the principal came and told everyone that they should not be talking about the exam, even though he already heard some talking about it. We naturally stopped, but basically, after some time, someone approached us and asked us about a question on the MC, so we naturally replied. Then, the principal came and caught us, and now we're getting reported for talking about the exam during the break.</p>

<p>I want to make it clear that I'm not denying responsibility - it is written in the rules, and it was read by the proctor before the exam began, that discussing during the break is not allowed. My question is, why is there the rule that you cannot discuss the MC during the break? I know 90% of the entire AP population does it, and I'm sure CB would know that it is done. Yet, what's the harm? It's not like discussing the MC does anything to affect our score.</p>

<p>Yea, it's CB's rules, and so we should listen to it. But seriously - what's your opinion? I'm probably going to get my score cancelled regardless, but this rule seems absolutely egregious, in my opinion.</p>

<p>Please don't talk BS about how I should just accept my responsibilities and that it's my fault, etc. I already know. I'm just curious as to why this rule even exists.</p>

<p>Thanks for reading.</p>

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<p>Honestly, that rule is one of the most illogical things about the Collegeboard. I’m 99.99999 percent sure that there isn’t a single school in the nation where this happens. Sorry you got caught, that seriously blows. Are you sure you can’t convince your school authorities out of it?</p>

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<p>More than one person was “caught” right?
Drag as many people as humanly possible into the situation. Situation will reflect terribly on the principle if a ton of students are forced to cancel their scores.</p>

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<p>I’m going to disagree - discussion does not happen at every school. Some students do in fact follow the rules, and some schools have built a culture where you abide by the rules. You should be in the practice of avoiding talk about ANY exam during a break. You were given a warning to stop discussing the exam, when someone approached you, you should have declined to answer. At some schools you wouldn’t have been given that warning, but reported immediately. </p>

<p>I don’t think reporting the whole class will reflect poorly on the school - it will reflect poorly on the students at your school, and your class. It will reflect well on the Principal that he was willing to risk the loss of prestige associated with fewer high scores on the exams. I wouldn’t call what you did cheating, per se, but you did break the rules that were explained to you, and continued to do so after being told to stop.</p>

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<p>@CTScoutmom Given the fact that our school is relatively on the “behaving” side in terms of schools (we leave our laptops lying around anywhere, since we know no one in our school steals), I doubt that the typical American schools with blatant bullying (no bullying here) and general violence and misbehavior are better on the aspect of discussion after the test.</p>

<p>Nevertheless, the thing is, the principal was not aware of the consequences - he thought that it would be reported to CB, and CB wouldn’t take much action. Not to the extent of a score cancellation. </p>

<p>I feel like the rule shouldn’t be applicable to those taking the same test - we all saw the same questions. Maybe if we asked about the questions to a teacher or outside source, we can be subject to some consequences.</p>

<p>Can anyone think of a LEGITIMATE reason why CB has this regulation? I can’t.</p>

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</p>

<p>Serious? </p>

<p>Why do you believe it does not matter it students talk about a test they are in the process of taking?</p>

<p>I’m quite willing to answer answer your question … but first why don’t you spend about 1 minute thinking about it and see what you come up with … it’s not that hard.</p>

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<p>I second Jwen.</p>

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<p>Yeah, dumb rule. Talking about the MC during a break BETWEEN MC sections would not be okay, but this is after the fact. The only reason why the rule is in place is probably because CB recycles questions. Anyway, at my school EVERYONE discusses the MC right in front of the proctors and even with teachers. Violation of rules? Yes, but consider this: AP exams are the culmination of 180 day’s worth of effort. 180 hours or so depend upon what we do in three. My point? MC and FRQ WILL be DISCUSSED becuase we DESERVE to discuss them. Also, to whom it may apply: good luck on the AP Lit exam!!!</p>

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<p>@3togo I’m not sure if you are knowledgeable of the AP Exam Format. The MC book and answer sheet is SEALED and HANDED IN to the proctor before the break. In other words, we have no access to the answer sheet and question booklet after the break - why then are we not allowed to discuss an already finished part of the test? Of course I would see wrong in discussing the test if the test is in session, like the SAT.</p>

<p>Personally, I think our school is too strict on this matter - I bet other schools just don’t give a crap. How many of you talk to your teachers about the FRQ after the test? The majority, I bet.</p>

<p>I’m more worried about disappointing my Calc teacher than not receiving a score… :/</p>

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<p>The short answer is … the test is supposed to reflect your knowledge of the subject and not anyone elses … while it is true during the break you can only discuss questions that are complete it is quite likely that discussion could help you with future questions … for example while discussing an “old” question your friend reminds you of a formula, short cut, or approach that you had forgotten (or weren’t sure about) … and now the rest of the test no longer reflects only your work.</p>

<p>PS - letting friends mingle during break is a VERY bad test set-up given this restriction</p>

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<p>CB also explicitly states that you can <em>never</em> talk about the multiple choice question. I decided to be a smart-ass and ask, “even on my deathbed?” and got yelled at by a proctor. </p>

<p>They actually reuse MC questions, not only for the different international and American forms of exams, but from year-to-year. It makes sense why they don’t want this information public knowledge (if you can even call it that). That said, NEVER talking about it is obviously crazy, but it’s the legal measures they need to take to protect their questions. </p>

<p>In your specific case, however, you’ve already sealed your test packet and the proctors have likely already taken your answer sheet, but discussion of any sort regarding calculus can be helpful on the FRQs and is considered using outside sources of information during the test. In fact, I find it annoying when people discuss questions they got wrong on the MCQ during breaks because there is no way they can change what they got wrong, they’re simply using that information in the hopes that if it comes up on the FRQ portion, they will answer it correctly. That is morally wrong.</p>

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<p>Oh yea, and Jwen, we thought about doing that - until we discovered that doing so will tarnish the credibility of the school, and thus, all exam scores including those that are not AP Calc may be cancelled - I would rather have one score cancelled than all of it. </p>

<p>Sadly, there is no way to convince them morally - the Christian values make them feel obligated to report any indication of misconduct, no matter what. There’s absolutely no form of leniency in this school (at least, in the moral aspect).</p>

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<p>@3togo: I’m not certain that this is the case, but I always thought that you were allowed to talk about the actual subject of the test (in this case Calculus), but not about particular questions on the test. So, if you wanted to ask someone the formula for LaGrange Error Bound or something else, I think you would be allowed to as long as you’re not talking about a question that you’ve already seen on the exam.</p>

<p>Personally, I don’t understand why we’re not allowed to talk to others that have already taken the test about MC questions, but those are the rules. It would be bad if you talked about test questions to someone who is taking it the following year, but if they already took the test, what’s the harm?</p>

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<p>@Gratisfaction Yea, that’s what my friends and I thought initially when we discussed this issue (ironic, huh). Yet, who honestly remembers what question came up on any AP exam last year? I doubt I would remember even if I tried - and it’s illogical to assume that discussing the material during the BREAK would facilitate the dispersion.</p>

<p>I feel like all the explanations for this rule are a stretch. Whatever. Despite everything, I think to make it an AUTOMATIC score cancellation is too severe.</p>

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It would also reflect how selfsih the OP is if he/she were to actually go through with this (which I’m guessing that he/she hopefully won’t). -__-</p>

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This makes no sense… Then study groups should be banned, and you shoudn’t be allowed to look at your notes or textbooks during the break (which you are allowed to do). Just because you learn something doesn’t mean you’re cheating. In that case no one ever deserves their grade, because everything we learn comes from someone else.</p>

<p>CB does a lot of wierd things. This is just another one of them. :confused: I love it when proctors make jokes about it though. Last year I had 2 proctors who read out the bit about not being allowed to discuss questions, and then they said “or else the police will come to your house and arrest you.” Seriously, CB makes a big deal out of nothing :rolleyes:</p>

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<p>For the notes aspect I know at my school for all the ap tests I’ve done we were not allowed to look at any notes or reference material even before the test started when we got to the test center until it was completely over. Is that unique to my school then?</p>

<p>Rules often exist not so much that it causes a problem usually to allow it but because if not treated strictly then it can cause more trouble than desired and often even then is really still just to avoid some specific cases. Some rules like this I don’t find evil to break and just involve not being caught by someone who would care about them being broken.</p>

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<p>It’s a lot simpler and clearer to say “don’t discuss the questions at all” than to say “don’t discuss questions after the test, but you can discuss them during the breaks.” The clearer and simpler the rule, the less chance someone will misconstrue/misunderstand it. Therefore, since CB reuses their questions, it’s a lot safer for them to say “don’t do it at all.”</p>

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<p>@Legacy2277: Nope, not just your school. At the school where I took my exams, you weren’t allowed to look at any materials after you walked into the exam room. You could stand outside and study beforehand, but then you had to give your stuff to your parents or something to take away. It was emphasized that you couldn’t look at any notes/textbooks during the break.</p>

<p>Also, as for the discussing thing: No, it isn’t true that everyone discusses it. Where I took the exam, NO ONE discussed the questions. To be honest, hardly anyone talked at all during the break, just in case. Yeah, I guess it could be seen as a silly rule…but then CB is just like that. They have to preserve the integrity of their exams, so they add more rules than actually needed, because better safe than sorry.</p>

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<p>This is absolutely incorrect. You are not allowed to look at notes or the textbook during breaks and in my school if you want to take anything out of your bag, the proctors have to watch you take out the item and ensure you’re not looking at notes. I believe this is standard AP procedure. It isn’t considered cheating to learn something before the exam and use it on the test. It is, however, cheating if you learn something during the duration of the exam (which includes the breaks) and use it to your advantage. I’m not sure how everyone else finds this irrational, but students should prepare for an exam before the exam anyways…</p>

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<p>Jwen’s still right. So what if you risk all the scores being voided. Imagine how angry parents will get! And they’ll direct this towards the principal. So drag everyone in, rat everyone out together, the whole school can’t go down.</p>