Why students cheat during exams and what parents can do to deter them

SINGAPORE – Some bring unauthorised notes into the exam venue; some write notes on their palm or arm; while others copy answers from another candidate.

These are methods of cheating during national exams recounted by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB), educators and counsellors.

SEAB is a statutory board under the Ministry of Education that oversees national exams. It says that over the past five years, there was an average of 12 cheating cases annually, or about 0.01 per cent of candidates across all levels, including the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), as well as the GCE N, O and A levels.

Students who cheat during exams range in academic abilities, say counsellors.

There are high achievers who cheat because they fear not making it into their preferred school or course, and there are also students struggling academically who fear failing or disappointing their parents.

An SEAB spokesperson says that the board takes a serious view on any acts of dishonesty, including cheating.

To deter cheating, candidates are informed about the consequences of breaching regulations at several stages of the examination process, from registration to sitting the exam.

In addition, when an exam is going on, personnel such as invigilators are “instructed to be on the lookout for irregularities, to ensure fairness and integrity, while maintaining a conducive environment for all candidates”.

“With these measures in place, the incidence of cheating in Singapore’s national examinations has remained consistently low,” says the spokesperson.

When there is a suspected case of cheating, investigations include taking statements from relevant parties – the candidates involved, witnesses and examination personnel.

Depending on the severity of the case, the consequences meted out range from imposing grade penalties to termination of subject grade to being banned from registering for future exams to being reported to the police for investigation.

For a case that warrants termination of subject grade, a “T” symbol will be indicated against the subject on the candidate’s results slip, the spokesperson adds.

Overwhelming pressure to do well

Psychologists and counsellors say there is a range of reasons students decide to cheat during exams.

Dr Kit Phey Ling, a practising counselling psychologist and senior lecturer at the National Institute of Education, says students may not have prepared well for the examinations but do not want their parents or peers to know this.

They feel ashamed of their lack of preparedness, or because they fear adverse consequences such as shame, scolding or punishment for not doing well.

“The fear of adverse consequences or the need to maintain the good image of a successful student can result in immense pressure to succeed or a great fear of failure, both of which can incite students to cheat,” she says.

Cheating is often due to a combination of factors rather than a single reason, says Focus on the Family Singapore’s principal counsellor Alicia Boo.

She cites an experiment led by French economic professor Gilles Grolleau in 2016 which found that the fear of loss is a stronger driving force than a potential gain when it comes to cheating.

Participants were asked to solve a series of mathematical puzzles. Some participants were informed that they would be earning money for every puzzle they solved correctly, while others were given the maximum amount of money and told that for every wrong answer, money would be deducted.

The results showed that participants facing a potential loss were twice as likely to cheat than those who were earning money for their work.

“This has interesting implications on how we might understand the psyche of students, especially high-performing ones who may face the pressure of not wanting to lose their top rank,” says Ms Boo.

High expectations – from the student or his or her parents – could be another factor, says Mr Benny Low, a counsellor with MindfulBear, a specialist counselling centre for children.

These expectations could lead to a fight, flight or freeze mode, a type of stress response that affects the quality of students’ revision.

“The gradual inability to meet their own expectations could lead students to take drastic measures, like cheating, in order to do well,” he says.

He has encountered parents who believe that academic excellence is the only way that students can excel. “Their high expectations might induce high anxiety, prompting the impulse to cheat during exams,” he adds.

Ms Sandy Ho, another counsellor at MindfulBear, adds that the stress and anxiety surrounding national exams can lead some students to make poor decisions, including to cheat.

“The overwhelming pressure to succeed and perform well may push them to resort to dishonest means to alleviate their anxiety,” she says.

She adds that if students believe that the risk of getting caught is low, they might be more likely to cheat.

“The perceived lack of consequences or the belief that cheating is a victimless act can make cheating feel like a manageable risk,” she says.

Mr Sean Cheng, Fei Yue Family Service Centre’s assistant director, says some students cheat as they fear punishment or the loss of privileges.

“National examinations are often perceived as significant decision points in a student’s life, leading to heightened pressure. Under these circumstances, some students may resort to cheating, whether planned or unplanned, in an attempt to perform better,” he says.

Parents play crucial role in deterrence

Experts say parents play a critical role in providing emotional support, fostering integrity and giving verbal reminders that cheating does not pay off.

Dr John Lim, Singapore Counselling Centre’s chief well-being officer, suggests parents encourage effort and progress rather than place too much emphasis on grades, to the point where the child believes his or her worth is defined solely by academic success.

“When the pressure to achieve top scores becomes overwhelming, the child may start to think that the end (good grades) justifies the means (cheating). This is especially if they feel that failing would lead to disappointment or loss of parental approval or love,” he says.

Mr Cheng says it is helpful for parents to reflect on why examination outcomes matter to them and to communicate this to their children.

“Instead of focusing solely on results, parents should emphasise the importance of overall well-being and personal growth. Communicating the desire for their children to succeed in life, rather than just in exams, can help alleviate pressure,” he says.

Dr Kit says parents need to emphasise the importance of personal integrity and the consequences of cheating.

“Children need the reassurance that parents would be prouder of them if they passed or failed exams honestly rather than doing well dishonestly,” she says.

One way parents can influence their child is by modelling integrity and demonstrating honesty, says Focus on the Family Singapore’s Ms Boo.

“Apart from sharing about our own experiences and life lessons, we can also make use of stories in the media to highlight the negative consequences of cheating and dishonest behaviour,” she says.

Mrs Chloe Foo, 47, is an accountant with a 12-year-old son who is sitting the PSLE in 2025.

She says she makes it a point to remind him not to cheat, especially after she had caught him copying answers when going through assessment books.

“I told him now is the time to make mistakes and learn, so don’t think about cheating. I also told him about the news of law graduates who were caught cheating in exams and how it doesn’t pay to copy,” she says.

Eleven trainee lawyers in Singapore cheated in their Bar exams in 2020, which were held online. Law graduates have to pass this in order to be qualified to practise law here. As a result, their applications to be called to the Bar had to be postponed.

Say this to your child

Experts suggest some phrases parents can say to their child, to remind them that they matter more than their exam grades, and that there are serious consequences for cheating.

Such discussions should take place now, way before exam season begins.

Parents can pick a few of these phrases and use them to start conversations with their child about what they value, how they can help plan a study schedule and why honesty is important.

• “I can see you’re trying your best, and your effort is what matters – more than the results.”
• “Cheating might seem like an easy way out, but it can have serious consequences.”
• “Mistakes and setbacks are part of learning. I care more about how you learn and grow from them than about getting perfect scores.”
• “I will always support you, whether you score an A or a C. What matters is that you’re learning and doing your best.”
• “You don’t have to be perfect. If you’re struggling, let’s figure out how to improve your study plan instead of taking shortcuts.”
• “Sometimes, when students are stressed, they do things they would normally not do, such as cheating. How can I support you so that you never have to resort to cheating?”
• “Cheating may seem like an easy solution, but it never helps in the long run. The real value is in your effort and learning, even if it’s tough.”

• Jane Ng is a senior correspondent at The Straits Times who covers parenting and education stories. She also writes a regular column, Minor Issues, where she mulls over her own parenting dilemmas.

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