Cheating On Tests

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Has anyone ever cheated on tests in college? If you did so, what was your justification?

Just today I cheated on a test in my P.E. class. I took it in the disability support center, and because I was the only one in there, I got out my textbook and used it to help me answer questions. Those P.E. tests are hard, and although I'm not sure as of now what I want to major in, I know that it definitely won't involve physical education.

I'd probably cheat on my algebra test too, but that would be more difficult because I'd have to take it in a room full of people and somebody would be bound to notice if I used my notes.

If you aren't cheating you aren't trying and for the algebra test, if you have a TI 83 or 84 you can write some brief notes into the calculator through the app button or the one next to it, just use the alpha key to write letters not numbers.

Nope, never cheated and never would. I really don't see the point. It's just lying to yourself and others.

I cheated on two exams. Once in two classes.

It simply consisted of my bringing in a "cheat sheet" with formulas I needed for the exam. One class was college math and another was chemistry. I could do the work, but I couldn't remember the formulas. Since my major wasn't in math or the sciences, I justified it as just using a crutch to get through the class to satisfy the degree requirements. I would have felt otherwise if I was going to make my living dealing with the material every day.

In hight school, I used my CASIO to wrote my formulas because I knew that even with them, I would not be good at mathematics.
However, I don't cheat on exams because of 2 reasons: it is forbidden and I want to know what I am capable of.

Never. I just always have to follow the rules

In the work world, if your boss gave you a "test" you'd be able to use your resources. I don't see how taking out notes or using a calculator or even using the book is cheating.
In the real work world, you'll never get tested and if you are being "tested" then you're able to use your resources. I don't consider you using your book cheating, I consider it using your resources.

Agreed.

"Cheating" to me is using a calculator to do the actual "math" whereas having a piece of paper with the formulas you need to use to solve problems is just a resource you would normally keep available in life.

It's akin to saying it's "cheating" to count on your fingers or do math on paper and pencil rather than doing it in your head.

Needing a "crutch" to do the job vs. doing it all in your mind just demonstrates your proficiency at doing the task...you aren't graded on your proficiency, but rather your ability to do it correctly.

Well it all goes back to two things. In school they want to memorize.

But remembering isn't learning.

And memorization of various and sundry formulas and equations comes easily to some and not to others. As a matter of practical experience, I find it easy to recall even complex formulas and concepts when one must work with them almost daily and throughout the day. For school purposes, you have very, very little contact with the material to ingrain it into your memories.

I don't cheat - but recently I have been sneaking notes onto my iPhone for this information systems class that I am NOT learning ANYTHING in. The professor talks about politics, drinking, his left-wing views, how he has a '68 Camaro(but he really drives a Prius, Honda Insight, Saab, Volvo or Subaru, he doesn't seem to the muscle car type) and his lame powerpoints and handouts do not correspond to the book at all.

It seems a concept schools don't seem to understand. Also people have singular intellect as well. Where they may be good in one thing, but not another.

There are tests in PE? I've only had 1 test in there ever, and that was in 7th grade when they decided to give us a quiz about how to -play badminton. I don't know why. Probably to annoy us. But it wasn't hard.... And I didn't even know they had it in college.

My P.E. class is also like a health class. We go into a classroom wherein the professor lectures from a chapter in the textbook, then we head down to the cardio/weight room and run on treadmills and lift weights. Our tests are based on the information in the lectures.

They're hard because the questions are very specific on what's in the chapter. I could get a basic understanding of the chapter, but then the test asks really nitpicky questions on information that I just glossed over while studying the textbook.

But there are fields where your resources are limited to the extent where you had to do without any reference material (medicine, for instance) to perform the work you are paid to do.