Cheating 2.0: A reprofiling of the 10 most wanted test cheaters in the digital age

Abstract

In the last issue of Medical Education Unleashed, Royal et al (2016) introduced the "Ten Most Wanted" test cheaters. Almost a decade later, significant changes in assessment format and delivery have altered the landscape of academic dishonesty. This paper revisits the original 10 cheaters, updates their statuses and identifies new contenders. Cheating remains a pervasive issue in medical education, exacerbated by the shift to online assessments during the COVID-19 pandemic. In medical education, cheating threatens assessment validity, patient safety and institutional reputation, and may correlate with future unprofessional behaviour. The motivations behind cheating are multifaceted. We use the 'fraud triangle' of motivation, opportunity and rationalisation as a framework to conceptualise some of these. This paper profiles the evolution of cheating methods, highlighting new digital-age strategies. An approach which combines authentic assessments, technological integration and promotion of academic integrity is essential to combat this enduring issue.

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