Unauthorized Use of Study Aids in an Exam

Examples of unauthorized study aids are:

• Bringing notes or a crib sheet into an exam that does not allow outside materials
• Programming equations into a calculator when the instructor has clearly indicated that you’re to be tested on your recall of those same equations
• Using any electronic device which allows you to look up or calculate answers or to communicate with someone else outside the room

This type of academic integrity violation can be confusing.

Different instructors may have their own expectations of what constitutes an ‘authorized’ vs. ‘unauthorized’ study aid. You can avoid this type of academic integrity violation by assuming all work submitted for credit is to be completed without using any materials unless they were described in the course syllabus or on the individual assignment instructions. If there is any doubt, ask the instructor before using study aids to complete an assignment.