Help! Bought an online test bank not sure what to do!

Nursing Students General Students

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A student in my class bought an online test bank and shared it with the entire class, well little did we know that when we took our test on Monday that it was exactly the same! Could we get kicked out of nursing school for this????

19 other students had it as well!!

The girl bought it from like testbankcorner.com or something like that.... theres like 40 questions each chapter but our teacher's test was only 50 questions so we studied a lot of other questions too. Not to mention my powerpoints, flash cards that I made, and made easy books that I have. It just says test bank on it, I don't know if that means its the teachers one or a student one?

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Specializes in public health, women's health, reproductive health.

I'm sorry that, unlike some of your other classmates who are still in, you didn't realize that admitting to using a test bank and "confessing" it a few days later would most likely get you dismissed.

You say you were just being honest, but one might ask why you didn't go up and inform the instructor as soon as you realized that your practice questions were actually right there on the test you were taking. I'm not saying you necessarily should have done that, just commenting on the honesty aspect.

As for the school and the teachers - how do they NOT know, in this day and age, that these test banks are easily accessible? Why do they use straight out test bank questions? The truth of the matter is that some of these questions are all over the internet and a student might not even know they came from a test bank. A student could be just looking for resources to practice and find some questions someone put up on a study site and use those questions to study. The instructors really need to take the time to at least reword the questions. This is one reason I'm glad my instructor does not use test banks, so there can be no confusion of this type.

I'm sorry you are going through this.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
NicolleM said:
The girl bought it from like testbankcorner.com or something like that.... theres like 40 questions each chapter but our teacher's test was only 50 questions so we studied a lot of other questions too. Not to mention my powerpoints, flash cards that I made, and made easy books that I have. It just says test bank on it, I don't know if that means its the teachers one or a student one?

There are no student test banks. Those are called "study guides". The website she bought it from was a third party source intended to cheat, just like the ones described in the article linked by Esme above. Legitimate test banks are sold by the publisher to authorized buyers (verified college professors)

You may have little success in your appeal. I'm sorry this is a very difficult, expensive lesson to learn.

I think you would have had a chance if you said something that day or even the next. Waiting 3 days may be the deciding factor to deny the appeal.

Perhaps try my suggestions above and offer to retake a new version of the exam. Perhaps take a class in ethics. Especially if you were in good academic standing otherwise and this was a first offense.

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I didn't speak up on Monday because I didn't want to go into it without proof that I didn't know that I had the teachers questions/test....My parents recommended to do it as a group too.

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I can't believe I am going to say this, but this posts kinda proves another posters point on another thread that sometimes it really is best to keep your mouth shut or lie if asked. And that should not be. I am sure the OP wishes they had had done just that. I truly hope you win your appeal because it sounds as if you made a horrible honest mistake. And I am sure you will never do it again. Good luck.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.

Even if you would've went in without proof & by yourself the appeal process might have been in your favor. Unfortunately you waited & I'm sure to them it looks bad.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
jetsy62 said:
I can't believe I am going to say this, but this posts kinda proves another posters point on another thread that sometimes it really is best to keep your mouth shut or lie if asked. And that should not be. I am sure the OP wishes they had had done just that. I truly hope you win your appeal because it sounds as if you made a horrible honest mistake. And I am sure you will never do it again. Good luck.

I believe the liars in her case might get found out & kicked out as well. I wouldn't lie in that case, or ever in school. I'm sure the school will look into this issue & everything will come to light. At least since she was honest I'm sure she can reapply & get back in. However, if she lied I doubt the school would be so willing to let her back in.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
NicolleM said:
I didn't speak up on Monday because I didn't want to go into it without proof that I didn't know that I had the teachers questions/test....My parents recommended to do it as a group too.

Group is not always better. What kind of proof were you looking for ? That you had the test bank and not the actual test? Why not say something on Tuesday or even Wednesday? At what point was it discovered or did the group come forward? Or did someone else ( perhaps one of the classmates you think is dishonest/a liar and still in class came forward right away and thus got a lesser punishment but is not discussing it with everyone else) come forward first ?

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Well after a 4 hour individual interrogation on Thursday we did take a re-test, then before having time to even grade them we were dismissed....and they said that they couldn't grade the tests due to administration...

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
OrganizedChaos said:
I believe the liars in her case might get found out & kicked out as well. I wouldn't lie in that case, or ever in school. I'm sure the school will look into this issue & everything will come to light. At least since she was honest I'm sure she can reapply & get back in. However, if she lied I doubt the school would be so willing to let her back in.

What if the ones perceived to be liars quietly came forward right away and thus got lesser punishment (retake test or get a 0) but are not announcing it to everyone else? I've seen this happen. One makes an ethical decision to come forward on their own, not indicting others but accepting responsibility. The admin look into the situation and find irregularities or perhaps 2-3 days later others come forward not knowing someone else came forward already. The latecomers receive a more harsh punishment than the one or two who came forward right away. But make assumptions about the others who were not dismissed.

There was likely a pattern in grades and correct answers that was different from usual class performance.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

I know you don't want to put too many details but even if you didn't realize that you studied from a contraband test bank waiting to come forward... Or being "caught" as it seems since you had individual interrogations is indicative that administration is taking this situation very serious.

What did you use for your appeal that was denied? If you defended your inaction by stating you wanted to wait for others after discussing with your parents that does not demonstrate accepting personal responsibility.

Choose your words carefully as this will impact your future academic career in nursing or any other discipline as going forward you will have to admit to being administratively dismissed due to charges of academic dishonesty.

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I would change your screen name as well, just for good measure...

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