GEMS WORLD ACADEMY SENIOR SCHOOL

As the IB (2009) notes, “The candidates are responsible for ensuring that the final version of any work is authentic. Candidates themselves must bear the consequences if they submit any work for assessment that is not their own, regardless of whether the plagiarism was deliberate or the result of poor research skills. The same principle applies to collusion.”

 

The IB (2009) defines malpractice in the following ways:

· plagiarism: this is defined as the representation of the ideas or work of another person as the candidate’s own. Students can avoid plagiarism by properly acknowledging both direct quotes, images, etc. as well as the ideas of others.

· collusion: this is defined as supporting malpractice by another student, as in allowing one’s work to be copied or submitted for assessment by another

· duplication of work: this is defined as the presentation of the same work for different assessment components and/or diploma requirements

· any other behaviour that gains an unfair advantage for a student or that affects the results of another candidate (for example, taking unauthorized material into an examination room, misconduct during an examination, falsifying a CAS record).

 

Protocol For In-School Academic Malpractice

The following steps will be followed in cases of malpractice:

1. Teachers will advise students of suspicion of misconduct

2. A record of the incident will be forwarded to the Diploma Programme Coordinator

3. The Diploma Programme Coordinator will discuss the incident with the teacher

4. The Diploma Programme Coordinator will interview the student involved

5. The Diploma Programme Coordinator will action appropriate disciplinary measures commensurate to the offense making note of the incident in the SIS which will in turn prompt a communication with parents.

Malpractice on Assessments to be Submitted to the IB

According to the Academic Honesty (2009) document, in cases of malpractice on assessments or exam that are intended for submission to the IB, the following protocol has been put in place.

 

Once a candidate has submitted his or her work to a teacher (or the coordinator) for external or internal assessment together with the coversheet signed (or authenticated electronically) to the effect that it is the final version of the work, neither the work nor the coversheet can be retracted by the candidate. If the candidate is subsequently suspected of plagiarism or collusion, it is no defense to claim that the incorrect version of the work was submitted for assessment.

 

After a candidate has signed and dated the coversheet (or authenticated electronically)to the effect that his or her work is authentic and constitutes the final version of that work, the candidate’s teacher (or supervisor in the case of an extended essay) must also sign and date the coversheet to the effect that to the best of his or her knowledge it is the authentic work of the candidate. Any suspicion of malpractice that arises after the candidate has signed the coversheet must be reported to the coordinator help desk at IB Cardiff for investigation. However, if there is no tangible evidence of malpractice (such as the source of plagiarism) the candidate must be given the benefit of any doubt and the coversheet must be signed by the teacher/supervisor. It is not acceptable for the teacher to:

• delete the declaration and then sign the coversheet

• submit the work for assessment without his or her signature

• sign the declaration and then write comments on the work or coversheet that raise doubts about the work’s authenticity.

• In the above circumstances the IB will not accept the work for assessment (or moderation) unless confirmation is received from the school that the candidate’s work is authentic.

 

If a teacher is unwilling to sign a coversheet owing to a suspicion of malpractice, the matter must be resolved within the school. The coordinator has the option of informing the coordinator help desk that the work will not be submitted on behalf of the candidate (resulting in no grade being awarded for the subject or diploma requirement).

 

Malpractice in Testing Situations:

Students may not:

· take unauthorized material into an examination room (see below)

· leave and/or access unauthorized material in a bathroom/restroom that may be visited during a test

· pass on information to another student about the content of an examination, this includes facilitating the exchange information between other students in any way

· steal examination papers

· using an unauthorized calculator during an examination

 

Students must not have unauthorized material (for example, own rough paper, notes, a mobile/cell phone or an electronic device other than a permitted calculator) in their possession during a testing situation. “In their possession” may be taken to mean on the person of the student, in the student’s immediate proximity (such as on the floor or desk) or placed somewhere (such as a bathroom/restroom) for access during the test. It is very important to note that guilt will be confirmed by the school administration regardless of whether this material is used, was or was not intended for use or contains information relevant or potentially relevant to the test. The actual possession of unauthorized material constitutes malpractice; the school administration is not required to establish whether the student used or intended to use the material. No leniency is shown to a candidate who claims that they were unaware the material was in their possession.

The full GWA DP/CP Academic Honesty Policy is located here.