Keane, who was also a VCE teacher and on exam-setting panels, said some students also did it because they thought they could get away with it.
“There’s also that whole fear of failure where their results are tied to their self identity, their self-confidence.”
But she said most students stuck to the rules because they knew cheating wasn’t worth the risk.
Educational ethicist and researcher Daniella Forster said the numbers in Victoria showed there was a low prevalence of cheating compared to other countries.
Forster said students were more inclined to cheat when grades and test scores were more important than getting depth and mastery on a topic – “such as in competitive environments and high-stakes exams”.
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She said preventing cheating was key, and schools and families should emphasise that honesty, integrity and mastery of knowledge were more important than high test scores.
Punitive measures should be a last resort, the academic said.
“[It has an] incredibly damaging effect on the young person’s future prospects, and … the educational system is preset to be highly competitive but is also significantly under-resourced.”
Under VCAA rules for serious breaches, a student can face a committee and receive a formal written warning or a penalty – such as having marks deducted.
In 2024, 39 students received an administrative caution, including 19 who were reprimanded and a further three who were penalised for cheating. No action was taken against 26 students who breached exam rules.
“All alleged misconduct cases are thoroughly investigated, and students found to be cheating may be penalised, including written warnings or a reduction in their exam scores,” a VCAA spokesperson said.
“While the vast majority of students sitting a VCE exam do the right thing, the VCAA has processes in place to ensure no student gains an unfair advantage in by cheating in exams.”
To tackle cheating, seating plans are registered with exam administrators, which allows testers to crosscheck if there are accusations of cheating. Supervisors accompany students to the toilet and wait outside the door.
Keane had some advice for those who felt the pressure and were considering taking illicit shortcuts before their exams: “It’s not worth the risk.”
She said the ATAR score does not define a student.
“There are many pathways, and it’s not worth risk of reputation damage or losing marks,” Keane said.
More than 89,000 students sat at least one VCE exam last year.
Last year’s exams were marred by serious issues, after the exam authority inadvertently gave some students an edge by publishing exam content online. The blunder came after an investigation into errors detected on exams in 2022 and 2023.
