Cheating Principles for college students

I first copied in exams in 2004 [UG-1st yr]. I copied practical results, peeped into friends' answer sheets, and used chits. I stopped copying after UG. After Ph.D., I am on the other side of the table-AS A TEACHER. A recent case of cheating in my class & news of IIT-Bombay end-sem exam getting cancelled due to cheating led me to reflect on the issue.

Having "been there, done that", here is my take on the issue:

-Cheating requires both, luck and ability to apply your mind. Cheating is easy. Not getting caught is difficult if both you run out of luck, fail to apply your mind, or make judgement error in the live situation.

-If you like a subject, never cheat in it. Ensure that you prioritize learning over grades in at least some subjects.

-If you decide to cheat, be prepared for consequences varying from humiliation in front of class, fail grade in assignment, redoing assignment, or failing the subject. You may see your parents being informed of the act. If you are not ready for this, avoid misadventure at all costs.

-If a friend has shared his/her assignment to help you, ensure not to copy verbatim and apply your mind to make significant changes so that none of you get caught.

-If u see some mistake in assignment, tell your friend so that (s)he can correct it before submission.

-Consciously leave some parts of question unanswered, or make a mistake in ur calculations. If your friend trusted you by sharing his/her assignment, ensure that u don't score more than him/her.

Whatever we may say as an idealist, the reality is that cheating/copying in exams or assignments is a reality in most Indian universities.

If I say that I never cheated, I will be dishonest. So did my friends including most toppers. Some of my UG friends who were in same boat as me (i.e. cheated on exams and assignments) have done well and are experts in their fields and it is not because of their grades in college (with/without cheating). Their expertise arises from their interest in the chosen field, hard work, and constant ability to learn and utilize this learning to make a difference in their work. Sadly, students in universities do not always get such opportunities.

I do not encourage academic dishonesty in UG but still, as a teacher, I understand that some students dislike certain subjects and they may cheat. Some find content difficult and may cheat to pass. If you do so, follow the principles I stated above.

In UG, you may have chosen your course based on peer/family pressure or may have been ignorant. You dislike the subjects or are unable to handle independent, less structured work. UG may not have been your decision. That may still validate your act of cheating. But if you choose to pursue Masters, avoid cheating at all costs. Focus on learning. Grades should follow. Some dislike assessment formats of university and may never score well in timed tests/quizzes. In such cases, your project work, internships, referrals and recommendations from your peers or Mentors/Bosses, your patents or successful project implementation should speak for you. If not, you may be better off outside the university, working and learning on the go.