How to Cheat On a Test

Last Updated: December 22, 2024 References

Whether you are simply unprepared, lazy, or otherwise unable to successfully pass an exam, you may feel compelled to use cheating as a strategy to get through a test. Here are some steps and tips to help you accomplish your goal and most likely get that A+ you've always wanted.

Steps

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Will you use the Cheat-Sheet , the Partner-Cheating , or the Hard-to-Prove ? (Refer to the sections below for more information on such methods.)
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Don't get caught . Cheating only helps if you can get away with it. Here are some simple tips to avoid getting caught:
- Don't look suspicious. It's important to strike a balance between effectively getting your answers and not making it obvious. To do this, don't overly fidget. If you must look around, never hold your gaze in one place for longer than five to ten seconds. Switch it up by randomly staring in other directions — this way, your test supervisors won't get too suspicious and find out where your accomplice (or cheat sheet) is.
- Don't aim too high. It's not impossible to cheat your way into a perfect score if you really put in the effort, but if everyone else is getting an unremarkable grade on the exam, you will draw attention to yourself. This is fine if you normally get decent marks, but if you're known among teachers as one of the slower students, then there's a chance that they'll find out. Deliberately miss a few questions, though, and you'll be good to go. Try getting a B on a test and continually but slowly raising your average score until it's an A. You can even shoot for ups and downs in your scores, to make it appear more natural.
- Dispose of the evidence. As soon as the test is over, ask to go to the bathroom (if you haven't already gone) to wash off or throw away any evidence of cheating. The longer you hold on to something, then the better your chance of getting caught because one person or another will notice.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Cheat-Sheet Methods

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This includes formulas, keywords, vocabulary, dates, definitions, names, conjugations, etc.
The font should always be clear to read, and in the Goldie Locks size (not too big, not too small). While you would want to include as much as possible on the small sheet of paper, remember if the font is too small you will overly focus on your cheat-sheet thereby increasing your chances of getting caught. Also, if it is possible to print-out your cheat sheet, do that. It will reduce the chances of your teacher or professor being able to trace it back to you.
This is most common for spelling tests. Copy down the spellings in your spelling book to a piece of paper, then put it on your lap or up your sleeve. This is a high-risk method, so be careful.
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Hide the sheet.
- Try the "Body Part Cheat-Sheet" method. Instead of printing out the cheat sheet, try writing it on a part of your body. Good places include your forearm if you are a man or your upper thigh if you are a woman. These are both great because you can wear a dress or long sleeve shirt to cover up your cheat sheet when you aren't using it. It's important to not make it obvious that there is writing on your body. Put the words in a place that faces you only.
- Try the "Water Bottle Cheat-Sheet" method. Print out the cheat sheet on a colored piece of paper that matches that label of your water bottle. Paste it on the label and turn it so that it only faces you. Ideally, you want to mimic the writing on the label to avoid suspicion. ^{[1]
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- Try the "Binder Cheat-Sheet" method. If you have a binder that has a clear slot in the front, slide your cheat sheet into there. Move your binder from under your desk to the side of your desk to peek at your cheat sheet. Try to minimize the number of slides, especially if you don't have carpet in your classroom.
- Try the "Calculator Cheat-Sheet" method. This is common for people who are taking math tests because that's the only reasonable time to have a calculator without being suspicious. Slide formulas or information terms between the back of the calculator and the calculator's cover.
- Another Calculator Method to try: If you have a graphing calculator, save the math formulas into your calculator. Then, put the information into an archive, so you will still be able to get to it if your teacher makes you clear the RAM. Unarchive the information during the test. Clear the memory after the test. This also works if it's the school's calculator because no teacher or student is going to look in the archive. If you don't know how to archive things on a calculator, look it up. ^{[2]
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- Try the "Stashed Cheat-Sheet" method. Hide a cheat-sheet in a separate place altogether to avoid it getting connected back to you. This includes on a bulletin board in the classroom, in a bathroom stall, or on someone's chair.
- Wear a long-sleeved shirt and hide your cheat sheets under the sleeves. It is a very good method because your teacher won't look under your sleeves. And when your teacher isn't looking, you can easily take out a cheat sheet, and it's easy to put it back.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Implementing Partner-Cheating Methods

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Seat yourself behind someone who will do well on the test (either bragged about studying or is an expert in the subject). Adjust yourself so that you are on the furthest left or right on your seat facing diagonally towards their desk, this should allow you to look over their shoulder without having to move your head too much. Never choose a student in the center of the classroom or the front as this makes it more likely that your teacher will notice you looking over their shoulder.
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Try the "Signing-Partner" method. Create a system of signing with a fellow student in the class. This is going to double your knowledge of the subject because you can work together to sign answers to each other. On multiple-choice exams:
- Establish hand or foot tapping signals for A, B, C, D, E, and "wrong answer." By creating a signal for "wrong answer" you are going to improve the likelihood of you both doing well on the test by helping each other eliminate wrong answers. Also create a vocal noise for getting their attention that isn't suspicious (like a cough, or foot tap).
- Start by coughing to get their attention.
- Use your fingers to give the number of the question (flash 3 than a 2 to with your hand signal question "32").
- Wait for them to signal their answer (pulling their ear for "B").
- If you need help deciding between 2 answers: cough, give the question number, and signal for the answer you suspect it might be.
- They can nod their head if it's correct. if it's the wrong answer they can send the "wrong answer" signal (put up your hair in a ponytail).

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Hard-to-Prove Methods

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For professors who use pre-made quizzes from their "instructor's edition" textbooks, purchase a copy. Find the correct edition of the book online and buy it. Before a quiz memorize the answers to the questions. This method is good for entry-level science, foreign language, and/or history classes that pull their quizzes straight from the book. ^{[3]
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This can be done by talking to an old student or by talking to other students who might have connections in the class. Study straight from the exam, or if you suspect that the exam will be the same, study the answers straight.
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Try the "Comeback Later" method. If you know a professor or teacher will let you come back to finish a test, purposefully don't finish the exam, and ask to come back on a later date. Make sure to memorize the topics or questions so that you can look up the answers before finishing the test later.
- Claim to be sick, go to the bathroom towards the end of the exam until it's over. Or pace yourself slowly. Be sure that your professor will let you come back before using this method as you could actually do worse if they don’t let you finish.
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Try the "Bring Your Pencil" method. As you turn in your exam, if your professor isn't at their desk, use a pencil you brought up with you to change or write in answers from the test at the top of the pile. (This is high risk!)
- Keep in mind that some classrooms have cameras. Avoid this if the one you are in does have a camera because if that is the case, it’s much riskier.
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Try the "Fake Exam Paper" method. Knowing the exact format of the exam paper will help with this, so you can write down all the important points on a paper which looks exactly like the exam paper.
- If your exam paper is a question/answer type then remember to add one important point as the question and the other as the answer. You also have to include the page number and marks per question (if included).
- The next thing to do is a staple this piece of paper with the original question paper during the test without anyone noticing.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Implementing Studying Methods

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Try not to cram information last minute. By not spending the few minutes before an exam skimming over your notes or studying, you may not have a shot at being able to do well without cheating.
- For essays , try to remember keywords and points. Usually, professors or teachers look for keywords or important points; the essay's formal "fluff" is less important. If you know the topic or possible topics of an essay question, cram four to five terms or important points you know your professor will be looking for instead of studying everything, thereby reducing the effort required. The same is true for short answers that require one or two sentences with keywords and points.
- For true-or-false exams, try studying the facts enough to pinpoint the details. Typically, there are more true statements on a test than false statements. If you find a statement where you have to change part of it to make it true, it's false.
- For multiple-choice exams , try "chunking" information you know will be on the test. Instead of memorizing a list of words, try breaking it into easier to remember smaller lists. ^{[4]
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  Research source} For example, if studying for a history test , instead of remembering "Jefferson, Hamilton, Franklin, Washington, Grant, Lincoln, and Lee" break it up into the "4 of the founding fathers: Franklin, Washington, Jefferson and Hamilton" and the "3 civil war leaders: Lee, Lincoln, Grant." By memorizing the number of men to a specific topic, it'll be easier to narrow down who you are missing.
- For math exams , try to memorize formulas. Knowing a formula can be more powerful than spending hours doing practice problems — although learning the formula through the practice problems can be an amazing idea. If you can write down a formula enough to memorize it, then you can spend the test trying to apply those to the problems.
Start studying earlier and more effectively for the next test. Taking into consideration your current timetable, you can try to create your own study schedule .

Community Q&A

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Question

How do I cheat for a test when the teacher walks around the classroom?

Community Answer

This is very risky. Signaling to a partner could work well if you're subtle. Don't try to cheat while the teacher is behind you, since you don't know where he or she is looking.

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What if another student spots me?

Community Answer

Act casually and play it off like you weren't doing anything at all, even if they insist they caught you.

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What if your teacher sees you cheating?

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At minimum, you will fail the exam. Depending on your teacher's and school's policy, you could be suspended, kicked out of the class, or expelled.

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Try getting to class early and then write everything from the cheat sheet directly onto the desk with a pencil. At the end of the test, you can use your hand to wipe away the evidence.
You can also try writing your answer on your arm and wearing a long sleeve shirt. Whenever you need to look, pull your sleeve down quickly and you have your answer!
If you're someone who tends to sit cross-legged in class, you can slip a small page of notes in your shoe or boot.

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Helpful 9 Not Helpful 2
Partnering is always better than cheat sheets and the hard-to-prove methods are even better. Overall, the less evidence there is - the better it is for you.

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Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
If you are allowed to chew gum, write the answers in a gum wrapper, then get out a piece of gum.

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Helpful 5 Not Helpful 1
Other students may suspect you cheating and inform your teacher.

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Always be aware of where the teacher is looking; no method of cheating is successful if the teacher is looking right at you while you hold the notes in your hand and are frantically copying them onto the test.

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Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
Don't brag about it. This may seem obvious, but it is something people do. You don't know who could tell the teacher.

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Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
If you had to cheat because you had no time, remember that it is still worth learning the content after the test. You may have cumulative tests afterward and some of these things could really help you in the future.

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Helpful 4 Not Helpful 2
Even if you do manage to cheat without getting caught while suffering the stress of doing so, it is very unlikely that the few extra marks you gain will make much difference to the score. And you risk disqualification, expulsion, or being banned.

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If you are copying off the person next to you lean over and rest on your arm while tilting your head to the side to make sure it isn't obvious.

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In many professions, you will need the knowledge you gain by studying instead of cheating. Remember, there is no cheating in the operating room when you're the surgeon operating on the patient or when you're in space as an astronaut flying far from Earth.

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It is never a good idea to do this, because you may feel guilty afterward and get the urge to confess what you did, which most likely will land you in trouble.

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In some countries, certain methods of cheating on certain important tests is illegal and could entail jail time. ^{[5]
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There is always a possibility of getting caught. If you are found to be cheating, you could receive heavy penalties, such as getting an automatic zero on the test, suspension, or even expulsion. Many schools will even mark on your transcript indicating you violated the honor code. Instead of searching for how to cheat on a test, try finding tips on studying for exams.

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If you are facing an external exam, such as GCSEs in the United Kingdom or NAPLAN in Australia, then it is strongly advised that you do not cheat or make any attempt to cheat on your exam. This is because if you do get caught, then you may get all your test results canceled if you are caught cheating. The worst sanction is to be banned from all the exam boards for five years - which means no A-Levels or university. Consequences of cheating in the Junior/Leaving Certificate in Ireland include being banned from state exams for five years.
- In some countries e.g., those mentioned above, you must not possess any unauthorized material, or electronic equipment e.g., mobile phones in an exam room if you are taking an external exam, such as those detailed above, as this is a serious disciplinary offense. This applies even if you do not intend to use it.
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How to Cheat On a Test

Steps

Using Cheat-Sheet Methods

Implementing Partner-Cheating Methods

Using Hard-to-Prove Methods

Implementing Studying Methods

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

Tips from our Readers

Warnings

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