Introduction

In the SPMRSM MYP, the early and mid-adolescence years are crucial to self-development. It is
a time when many students experience increasing personal, family and peer pressure to achieve
and perform. In this context, academic honesty must be seen as a larger set of values and skills
that promote personal integrity and good practices in teaching, learning and assessment.
Students are expected to strive to develop the attributes of The IB Learner Profile that are
embedded throughout the curriculum and in the school’s daily life. Therefore, the IB Learner
Profile is the cornerstone to the school’s Academic Honesty Policy.

Forms and Definitions of Academic Dishonesty

Cheating
Cheating is defined as using unauthorized answers or sources to receive credit for schoolwork.
Some examples are looking at someone else’s paper, copying from books when students are
supposed to use only their memory (e.g. on quizzes and tests) or copying someone else’s
homework.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is defined as a form of cheating when a student presents another person’s words or
ideas as their own without giving the originator credit for the information. Some common examples
of plagiarism are copying information from a book without using quotation marks and without
including a bibliography at the end of the assignment listing the sources used. All information in
academic assignments that is not common knowledge must be cited and documented.

Collusion
Collusion is defined as supporting malpractice by another candidate, as in allowing one’s work to
be copied or submitted for assessment by another.

Paraphrasing
Paraphrasing is defined as using an author’s ideas by rewarding or rearranging the author’s
original words. Paraphrased materials still require the student to acknowledge the source.
Sources may vary from books or hard copy documents, digital, media, software or any internet
sources. SPMRSM MYP will be using the American Psychological Association (APA) style for
referencing purposes.

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General Guidelines

At SPMRSM MYP, we place a high value on honesty and this extends to work submitted for
assessment. Teachers are expected to work with students from the beginning of their participation
in the MYP, to develop shared understandings about cheating, plagiarism, and other instances of
academic dishonesty. All members of the community need to be aware that the school treats
academic dishonesty as a very serious matter. SPMRSM MYP promotes academic honesty in
class, assembly, notice boards, Info TV, posters, flyers, planners and bulletins.

To be academically honest, all SPMRSM MYP students must be:

Inquirers
- An honest inquirer develops inquiry skills through research and independent learning.
- Ask the teacher or a classmate for clarification when necessary.

Knowledgeable
- An honest learner becomes knowledgeable through exploration of concept, ideas and
issues that creates impacts locally and has global significance.
- In using APA.

Thinkers
- Honest thinkers exercises critical and creative thinking skills upon solving complex
problems, reasoning and making ethical decisions.
- Take good notes and keep drafts of your papers & projects, so it’s obvious that the
assignments you turn in are truly your work

Communicators
- Honest communicator acknowledge their supporter ie: teachers, friends and families and
value their opinion
- Put others’ words & ideas into your own words (paraphrase) - use YOUR voice &
personality when writing or creating.

Principled
- Act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the
dignity of the individual, groups and communities and take responsibility for their own
actions and the consequences that accompany them.
- Give credit and cite sources when borrowing words, ideas, or images from a website,
song, video, or person, including interviews and photos (or other primary sources) and
reference books (or other secondary source).

Reflective
- They are being thoughtful and understanding in assessing their own learning and
experience.
- Consider the benefits for turning in work completed honestly (as opposed to work
completed dishonestly)

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Balanced
- Learners understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to
achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.
- Make a schedule, so you finish work on time & are not tempted to cheat.

Risk Takers
- Show courage and bravery in defending their beliefs and independent in exploring new
roles, ideas and strategies
- Be a leader--always do your own work & refuse to help others cheat

Caring
- Develops and shows empathy, compassion and respect towards others through positive
acts and service.
- Respect the efforts of others who help you complete your own honest work

Open Minded
- Learners are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and
communities.
- Consider many ways to cite sources & credit to others in your work

The Middle Years Programme committee agrees that the academically honest student at
SPMRSM MYP

DOES
• His/her own work/project
• Acknowledge help from parents, other students and friends
• Acknowledge the source of direct quotations
• Acknowledge information taken from books, CD-ROMs and the Internet
• Acknowledge reference materials in a bibliography
• Know what constitutes cheating and abides by the rules
• Understand the need to follow time frame for completing task
• Understand and follow all MYP academic guidelines

DOES NOT
• Use notes during a test unless allowed by a teacher
• Copy from another student during a test
• Copy from another student’s work and submit it as their own
• Do homework for another student
• Communicate with other students during a test.

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Consequences of Academic Dishonesty

Students who commit offenses such as cheating in homework/examination/assignment, copying,

helping others to cheat, falsifying data, plagiarism, etc.
1. will repeat / redo same level of task/homework/examination
2. will be punished to do community service tasks - i.e. mural painting, landscaping, cleaning,
community activities, charity work
3. will be under supervision by the homeroom advisor
4. will undergo counselling session
5. will involve parental discussion

The student may be given a second chance to complete another assignment and shall be
assessed by teachers for suitable credits.

Prevention of Academic Dishonesty

MRSM Tun Mohammad Fuad Stephens may submit selected pieces of student work to external
bodies for verification and evaluation of sources in line with IB recommendations and practice.
Students should be able to submit electronic copies of hard work to the teacher or to the
curriculum coordinator when required for verification at any time. To defend students against
charges of malpractice, students are made compulsory to keep all drafts that they produce in
preparing work for submission to teachers.

Procedure for Investigating Suspected Cases of Academic Dishonesty

If a student is suspected breaking the school’s standards of academic honesty, he or she will be
reported to the IB MYP coordinator who will investigate the matter. The student will be given the
opportunity to reply to the accusations and if the student is found being academically dishonest
in submitting his or her prerequisite work, the IB MYP coordinator will decide the outcome of the
case. In serious circumstances, the head of school will also be involved to determine the
consequence of the case.