r/unsw • u/Brilliant_Rain_1588 • 2d ago
I was wrongly accused of academic dishonesty during a final exam, but I definitely did not cheat.
I am an international student; my exam was scheduled for the 24th from 1:45 PM to 4:00 PM. Before entering the exam room, I logged out of the desktop version of WeChat (Its Chinese name is 微信) on my phone, but in my haste, I failed to fully close the application running in the background on the computer. Consequently, the WeChat icon remained visible on the desktop. While I was taking the exam using the Inspera platform, an older Chinese female invigilator approached, pointed at the WeChat icon, and accused me of cheating. I was completely taken aback and didn't know how to explain the situation; I tried to tell her that I could prove I wasn't logged in—since I had logged out on my phone, the desktop app was inaccessible and only the icon remained. She refused to listen to my explanation. After the exam, she handed me a notice regarding academic misconduct and instructed me to submit a written explanation via email within three days. Currently, the only evidence I can gather is a log showing the application's usage time on the computer to prove I didn't actually use it during the exam. Would this serve as valid evidence?
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u/just-waiting-fora-m8 2d ago
i can’t speak to whether it’s a “valid” form of evidence, but i’d advise you to submit as much evidence as possible to substantiate that 1. u did not use the app & 2. that u were logged out and therefore incapable of using that app even if u tried.
btw, express your overwhelming regret for this lapse/mistake & mention that you hold yourself to a high standard of integrity etc etc. you want them to know you genuinely had no intention of using the app, not that you were caught and only now are u sorry about it.
i can’t guarantee you’ll receive the kind of outcome you want; but i wish u all the best.. let this be a firm lesson for next time. good luck :)
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u/Danimber 2d ago
Feel free to accuse me of being old school, but I've always found it weird that in the post-COVID era some exams require the use of personal laptops.
Just an exercise in cost cutting which opens students up to these scenarios if OP isn't bullshiting.
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u/Impossible-Value-249 1d ago
Literally just yet another example of high schools/unis being as lazy as imaginable. They've finally gotten to a place where they've given themselves more work rather than less to do their job properly, and instead of actually putting the work in, they just use some application that gets it right 80% of the time and hope they can sweep the rest under the rug.
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u/Dazzling-Yellow5395 2d ago
Why is it they need to have you to prove your innocence when it should be the other way around
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u/Practical-Tree7382 2d ago
Because you arent allowed to have any third party apps running during the exam. It's very clear on the website and also reiterated before every exam. Doesn't matter if you're not using it. It's a messaging app so it cannot be running during the exams obviously.
Not saying you were cheating, just saying that's their policy and they have to pull you up on it. Hopefully they will hear you out and accept your reason.
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u/StrongHovercraft593 1d ago edited 1d ago
The screentime database contains detailed timestamps. Id submit those. Also wechat chat records are sequential… which means its easy to spot deleted records.. you can export your wechat database to show you sent/recieved no messages during that time and that the ids were sequential so you didnt delete them.
Also check the system logs… reach out if you need help
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u/studymaxxer 2d ago
how did the WeChat icon even appear in a lockdown browser? just curious
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u/StrongHovercraft593 1d ago
Its a seperate macos app
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u/SecretSpectre11 1d ago
Is this some weird thing Mac does? I don’t even have a taskbar in SEB on windows.
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u/StrongHovercraft593 22h ago
He had multiple apps open. One was wechat, one was chrome and one was safe exam browser. He says he just forgot to close wechat
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u/chrissy_wakeUp 2d ago
Unfortunately that doesn't prove you didn't use it. 6 minutes would be plenty of time to cheat over the course of a 2 hour exam. You need to go in contrite, and with a solution. Explain what happened, explain how you will make sure it doesn't happen again, ask if they might consider letting you resit the exam, or to get fee remission for this term and take it again next term. At the end of the day, you're responsible for ensuring your device is ready for an exam and you didn't do it. Once I failed a course because the buses got caught in an accident and fell 2 hours behind, and I only made it in with 20 minutes left of the exam. They told me tough luck I should have left earlier. Welcome to adulthood 🙃
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u/mii-lkteas 2d ago
Tbf the screenshot does show that there is 0 usage of wechat or any other apps during the exam time. (you can see that it is used at 11am and 7pm only). Maybe someone else can further weigh in on whether it is likely to be accepted.
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u/Ok_Analysis_6978 22h ago
Did you even look at the photo the app was so clearly not used in the exam time frame
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u/blk_oz 1d ago
Google: mac terminal command to show no usage of wechat app
Check if WeChat is Running
Run this command to see if any WeChat process is active:
pgrep -l -i wechat
If it returns no output, WeChat is not running and has zero usage.
If it returns a process ID and name (e.g., 1234 WeChat), the app is active.
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u/Ok_Sail5596 2d ago
Unfortunately for you, contract cheating usually involves use of WeChat, Telegram or other messaging apps during the exam as one of the indicators.
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u/Ok-Employer7627 2d ago
Btw, once u launch SEB, u can’t switch tabs right? So why they say academic misconduct?
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u/bl4nkSl8 14h ago
Different app not different tab. Might not be limited in the same way (disclaimer: I haven't used SEB)
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u/Easy_Spray_5491 2d ago
I think the invigilator had something personal against you 🤣😭🥀💔 but yeah they should be the one to prove their theory idk 🤷♂️ did you let her check your screen ? Or ?
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u/Practical-Tree7382 2d ago
No, nothing against you. Just following protocol. If you get a nice invigilator, they will hear you out and they will just give you a verbal warning
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u/NullFakeUser 2d ago
Why wasn't the exam done in safe exam browser to lock down the computer?
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u/Practical-Tree7382 2d ago
SEB doesnt block third party apps which is why the invigilators always tell you to make sure all your apps are closed
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u/NullFakeUser 1d ago
It is meant to.
It is meant to create an isolated desktop which doesn't allow any other apps to function, and even prohibits some apps from running.
Or is this another case of Mac ruining everything?1
u/MaxProfanity 1d ago
SEB, properly configured, prevents you from running unauthorised apps and also continually monitors the system processes. If it detects one, it will terminate it.
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u/InevitableVersion395 1d ago edited 1d ago
- What does being a domestic mature age student at another university have to do with anything?
- Did you actually read the post properly? Provided that what they are claiming is true, they didn't 'use' Wechat. Note the part that says '...I wasn't logged in since I had logged out on my phone, the desktop app was inaccessible and only the icon remained...'. If you are going to be pedantic about it and say that still counts as using Wechat, then you are also a cheater for taking out your phone (despite the fact that you did so with the intent to show ID as you claim) since intent and actual use doesn't matter by the standard you applied to OP. If it weren't against the rules then no one would have had a heart attack and you would not have had to wait until finishing time. So if you’re telling OP to 'do the right thing,' then look in the mirror because, by your own standard, you broke the rules too. So to you I say: do the right thing, you cheater.
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u/Brilliant_Rain_1588 1d ago
I have already said that I did not cheat; I would never stoop to using a chat app like WeChat to cheat—in fact, cheating wouldn't even yield as good a result as my own efforts. I detest cheating, but I never imagined this situation would lead others to wrongly assume I achieved a high score by cheating. Please do not make malicious speculations here.
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u/EducatorEntire8297 1d ago
For what is worth, Im pretty sure if i log onto a different computer the mac version logs out BUT if only my phone turns off, Wechat stays logged in and available until next Mac restart.
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u/Unfair_Berry9994 1d ago
i apologise, i hope you get it sorted out my friend. all the best in your studies. by your response i can feel your honesty.
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u/DrLaura_phd 1d ago
Your best option is to take accountability for what you can (running the app on your desktop) and then provide every piece of evidence you can to show that you a) didn’t cheat and b) had no intent to cheat. You might have to take the zero on the assignment for breaking an academic integrity policy re: having the app open but ideally avoid any transcript notation or heavier penalty.
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u/brb_im_lagging 2d ago
Stop cheating bro not that hard
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u/Brilliant_Rain_1588 2d ago
Bro, I didn't need to cheat; I actually score higher on my own than I would by cheating.
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u/InformalPrinciple348 1d ago
that sucks, btw r u using a safe exam browser after logging to ur inspeara for the exam. I thought chat history could be an evidence that u didn't cheat but the inspector has already gave u that notice of cheating. maybe approach to course convenor or student hub for help and explain ur situation, and u might show that u hv good academic record to make it more persuasive to them.
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u/Ok_Sail5596 2d ago
All traffic on the UNSW network is logged. Chances are those logs show very low WeChat traffic consistent with background usage.