Should I be concerned about student access to a test bank?












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If I am using a test bank to formulate a test based on a textbook, should I be concerned about students getting access to the test bank? I have read that student use of a test bank is cheating, but I guess I don't agree with that 100%. If I am drawing test questions out of exercise sets, how is that any different? The test banks usually have hundreds of questions to choose from, so if the students are learning the test bank well enough that they can answer some fractional selection from that test bank, it seems like a win to me. If they are studying questions, at the end of the day they are learning. Or is that the wrong way to look at it?










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    4















    If I am using a test bank to formulate a test based on a textbook, should I be concerned about students getting access to the test bank? I have read that student use of a test bank is cheating, but I guess I don't agree with that 100%. If I am drawing test questions out of exercise sets, how is that any different? The test banks usually have hundreds of questions to choose from, so if the students are learning the test bank well enough that they can answer some fractional selection from that test bank, it seems like a win to me. If they are studying questions, at the end of the day they are learning. Or is that the wrong way to look at it?










    share|improve this question

























      4












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      4








      If I am using a test bank to formulate a test based on a textbook, should I be concerned about students getting access to the test bank? I have read that student use of a test bank is cheating, but I guess I don't agree with that 100%. If I am drawing test questions out of exercise sets, how is that any different? The test banks usually have hundreds of questions to choose from, so if the students are learning the test bank well enough that they can answer some fractional selection from that test bank, it seems like a win to me. If they are studying questions, at the end of the day they are learning. Or is that the wrong way to look at it?










      share|improve this question














      If I am using a test bank to formulate a test based on a textbook, should I be concerned about students getting access to the test bank? I have read that student use of a test bank is cheating, but I guess I don't agree with that 100%. If I am drawing test questions out of exercise sets, how is that any different? The test banks usually have hundreds of questions to choose from, so if the students are learning the test bank well enough that they can answer some fractional selection from that test bank, it seems like a win to me. If they are studying questions, at the end of the day they are learning. Or is that the wrong way to look at it?







      exams






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      asked 5 hours ago









      Tyler DurdenTyler Durden

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          4 Answers
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          As long as the test bank as enough questions to cover the material I'd not be concerned. Those who work at it will learn. I've given my own students "sample exams" for years, then put some of the sample questions on the real exam. The students who were going to earn grades of A anyway got them right. The students who were going to earn unsatisfactory grades anyway did not.



          A colleague performed the experiment of handing out the course final exam a week before the exam date. Students were encouraged to get help studying, but then had to take the exam again in class. He says it did not change the grade distribution at all.






          share|improve this answer
























          • At one time there was a practice of giving the final exam during the first week of the course and again at the end. Presumably there was an expectation that the exam grades would improve.

            – Buffy
            5 hours ago






          • 1





            Yes, I can confirm that such things happen: on many occasions, at all levels, as "review", I've essentially worked all the exam problems in class, but it never seems to have an impact on exam outcomes. :)

            – paul garrett
            5 hours ago











          • That sounds like a crazy experiment to run. Did your colleague tell the students that that is the course final exam? I've also heard of a case where a hospital gave the same test to its nurses & doctors, and the well-trained doctors scored worse than the nurses. After investigating, it turned out the nurses had access to the questions beforehand and memorized the answers already.

            – Allure
            26 mins ago



















          1














          I use the test bank to feed a quiz of 10 questions, each question comes from a category that has between 15 to 80 questions.



          The students get access through a review quiz that has 10 questions with the same time limit as the real graded quiz of 10 questions. So, more practice = better grade...






          share|improve this answer































            0














            If the test bank is generally available then assume they have all seen it. But better yet, IMO, is to point it out to them and recommend it as a resource for studying. Tell them that they shouldn't expect any of those exact questions on any test, but that it will give them insight into the kinds of things that the author (and maybe you) think are worth asking.



            For your part, you can then use the bank as a source of ideas for questions, though probably less for the questions themselves. If that is your general practice, you can even salt exams with a few of the questions themselves, just to ease the burden.



            Directed study guided by a test bank is good. It isn't the only thing that is important, but it gives them a start. Since this is most likely an entry level course for which such things exist it can mean that those that work the hardest get good marks.



            In other words, I think your view of it is good and if you don't treat it as cheating then it won't be. But you might also warn them that not every professor will see it the same way, so they should use caution in extrapolating.






            share|improve this answer































              0















              If I am using a test bank to formulate a test based on a textbook, should I be concerned about students getting access to the test bank?




              No more than you should be concerned about students getting copies of old test, which happens in (almost) every class. Fraternities and Sororities keep copies of old test, and students post them on the internet. Trying to keep all your test questions out of students hands is an already lost battle.



              Ask students to show their work or explain their reasoning. That makes it a harder to memorize, and makes it more likely the student has to understand the question to answer it.






              share|improve this answer























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                4 Answers
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                4 Answers
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                As long as the test bank as enough questions to cover the material I'd not be concerned. Those who work at it will learn. I've given my own students "sample exams" for years, then put some of the sample questions on the real exam. The students who were going to earn grades of A anyway got them right. The students who were going to earn unsatisfactory grades anyway did not.



                A colleague performed the experiment of handing out the course final exam a week before the exam date. Students were encouraged to get help studying, but then had to take the exam again in class. He says it did not change the grade distribution at all.






                share|improve this answer
























                • At one time there was a practice of giving the final exam during the first week of the course and again at the end. Presumably there was an expectation that the exam grades would improve.

                  – Buffy
                  5 hours ago






                • 1





                  Yes, I can confirm that such things happen: on many occasions, at all levels, as "review", I've essentially worked all the exam problems in class, but it never seems to have an impact on exam outcomes. :)

                  – paul garrett
                  5 hours ago











                • That sounds like a crazy experiment to run. Did your colleague tell the students that that is the course final exam? I've also heard of a case where a hospital gave the same test to its nurses & doctors, and the well-trained doctors scored worse than the nurses. After investigating, it turned out the nurses had access to the questions beforehand and memorized the answers already.

                  – Allure
                  26 mins ago
















                1














                As long as the test bank as enough questions to cover the material I'd not be concerned. Those who work at it will learn. I've given my own students "sample exams" for years, then put some of the sample questions on the real exam. The students who were going to earn grades of A anyway got them right. The students who were going to earn unsatisfactory grades anyway did not.



                A colleague performed the experiment of handing out the course final exam a week before the exam date. Students were encouraged to get help studying, but then had to take the exam again in class. He says it did not change the grade distribution at all.






                share|improve this answer
























                • At one time there was a practice of giving the final exam during the first week of the course and again at the end. Presumably there was an expectation that the exam grades would improve.

                  – Buffy
                  5 hours ago






                • 1





                  Yes, I can confirm that such things happen: on many occasions, at all levels, as "review", I've essentially worked all the exam problems in class, but it never seems to have an impact on exam outcomes. :)

                  – paul garrett
                  5 hours ago











                • That sounds like a crazy experiment to run. Did your colleague tell the students that that is the course final exam? I've also heard of a case where a hospital gave the same test to its nurses & doctors, and the well-trained doctors scored worse than the nurses. After investigating, it turned out the nurses had access to the questions beforehand and memorized the answers already.

                  – Allure
                  26 mins ago














                1












                1








                1







                As long as the test bank as enough questions to cover the material I'd not be concerned. Those who work at it will learn. I've given my own students "sample exams" for years, then put some of the sample questions on the real exam. The students who were going to earn grades of A anyway got them right. The students who were going to earn unsatisfactory grades anyway did not.



                A colleague performed the experiment of handing out the course final exam a week before the exam date. Students were encouraged to get help studying, but then had to take the exam again in class. He says it did not change the grade distribution at all.






                share|improve this answer













                As long as the test bank as enough questions to cover the material I'd not be concerned. Those who work at it will learn. I've given my own students "sample exams" for years, then put some of the sample questions on the real exam. The students who were going to earn grades of A anyway got them right. The students who were going to earn unsatisfactory grades anyway did not.



                A colleague performed the experiment of handing out the course final exam a week before the exam date. Students were encouraged to get help studying, but then had to take the exam again in class. He says it did not change the grade distribution at all.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer










                answered 5 hours ago









                Bob BrownBob Brown

                19.4k95782




                19.4k95782













                • At one time there was a practice of giving the final exam during the first week of the course and again at the end. Presumably there was an expectation that the exam grades would improve.

                  – Buffy
                  5 hours ago






                • 1





                  Yes, I can confirm that such things happen: on many occasions, at all levels, as "review", I've essentially worked all the exam problems in class, but it never seems to have an impact on exam outcomes. :)

                  – paul garrett
                  5 hours ago











                • That sounds like a crazy experiment to run. Did your colleague tell the students that that is the course final exam? I've also heard of a case where a hospital gave the same test to its nurses & doctors, and the well-trained doctors scored worse than the nurses. After investigating, it turned out the nurses had access to the questions beforehand and memorized the answers already.

                  – Allure
                  26 mins ago



















                • At one time there was a practice of giving the final exam during the first week of the course and again at the end. Presumably there was an expectation that the exam grades would improve.

                  – Buffy
                  5 hours ago






                • 1





                  Yes, I can confirm that such things happen: on many occasions, at all levels, as "review", I've essentially worked all the exam problems in class, but it never seems to have an impact on exam outcomes. :)

                  – paul garrett
                  5 hours ago











                • That sounds like a crazy experiment to run. Did your colleague tell the students that that is the course final exam? I've also heard of a case where a hospital gave the same test to its nurses & doctors, and the well-trained doctors scored worse than the nurses. After investigating, it turned out the nurses had access to the questions beforehand and memorized the answers already.

                  – Allure
                  26 mins ago

















                At one time there was a practice of giving the final exam during the first week of the course and again at the end. Presumably there was an expectation that the exam grades would improve.

                – Buffy
                5 hours ago





                At one time there was a practice of giving the final exam during the first week of the course and again at the end. Presumably there was an expectation that the exam grades would improve.

                – Buffy
                5 hours ago




                1




                1





                Yes, I can confirm that such things happen: on many occasions, at all levels, as "review", I've essentially worked all the exam problems in class, but it never seems to have an impact on exam outcomes. :)

                – paul garrett
                5 hours ago





                Yes, I can confirm that such things happen: on many occasions, at all levels, as "review", I've essentially worked all the exam problems in class, but it never seems to have an impact on exam outcomes. :)

                – paul garrett
                5 hours ago













                That sounds like a crazy experiment to run. Did your colleague tell the students that that is the course final exam? I've also heard of a case where a hospital gave the same test to its nurses & doctors, and the well-trained doctors scored worse than the nurses. After investigating, it turned out the nurses had access to the questions beforehand and memorized the answers already.

                – Allure
                26 mins ago





                That sounds like a crazy experiment to run. Did your colleague tell the students that that is the course final exam? I've also heard of a case where a hospital gave the same test to its nurses & doctors, and the well-trained doctors scored worse than the nurses. After investigating, it turned out the nurses had access to the questions beforehand and memorized the answers already.

                – Allure
                26 mins ago











                1














                I use the test bank to feed a quiz of 10 questions, each question comes from a category that has between 15 to 80 questions.



                The students get access through a review quiz that has 10 questions with the same time limit as the real graded quiz of 10 questions. So, more practice = better grade...






                share|improve this answer




























                  1














                  I use the test bank to feed a quiz of 10 questions, each question comes from a category that has between 15 to 80 questions.



                  The students get access through a review quiz that has 10 questions with the same time limit as the real graded quiz of 10 questions. So, more practice = better grade...






                  share|improve this answer


























                    1












                    1








                    1







                    I use the test bank to feed a quiz of 10 questions, each question comes from a category that has between 15 to 80 questions.



                    The students get access through a review quiz that has 10 questions with the same time limit as the real graded quiz of 10 questions. So, more practice = better grade...






                    share|improve this answer













                    I use the test bank to feed a quiz of 10 questions, each question comes from a category that has between 15 to 80 questions.



                    The students get access through a review quiz that has 10 questions with the same time limit as the real graded quiz of 10 questions. So, more practice = better grade...







                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered 4 hours ago









                    Solar MikeSolar Mike

                    14.1k52651




                    14.1k52651























                        0














                        If the test bank is generally available then assume they have all seen it. But better yet, IMO, is to point it out to them and recommend it as a resource for studying. Tell them that they shouldn't expect any of those exact questions on any test, but that it will give them insight into the kinds of things that the author (and maybe you) think are worth asking.



                        For your part, you can then use the bank as a source of ideas for questions, though probably less for the questions themselves. If that is your general practice, you can even salt exams with a few of the questions themselves, just to ease the burden.



                        Directed study guided by a test bank is good. It isn't the only thing that is important, but it gives them a start. Since this is most likely an entry level course for which such things exist it can mean that those that work the hardest get good marks.



                        In other words, I think your view of it is good and if you don't treat it as cheating then it won't be. But you might also warn them that not every professor will see it the same way, so they should use caution in extrapolating.






                        share|improve this answer




























                          0














                          If the test bank is generally available then assume they have all seen it. But better yet, IMO, is to point it out to them and recommend it as a resource for studying. Tell them that they shouldn't expect any of those exact questions on any test, but that it will give them insight into the kinds of things that the author (and maybe you) think are worth asking.



                          For your part, you can then use the bank as a source of ideas for questions, though probably less for the questions themselves. If that is your general practice, you can even salt exams with a few of the questions themselves, just to ease the burden.



                          Directed study guided by a test bank is good. It isn't the only thing that is important, but it gives them a start. Since this is most likely an entry level course for which such things exist it can mean that those that work the hardest get good marks.



                          In other words, I think your view of it is good and if you don't treat it as cheating then it won't be. But you might also warn them that not every professor will see it the same way, so they should use caution in extrapolating.






                          share|improve this answer


























                            0












                            0








                            0







                            If the test bank is generally available then assume they have all seen it. But better yet, IMO, is to point it out to them and recommend it as a resource for studying. Tell them that they shouldn't expect any of those exact questions on any test, but that it will give them insight into the kinds of things that the author (and maybe you) think are worth asking.



                            For your part, you can then use the bank as a source of ideas for questions, though probably less for the questions themselves. If that is your general practice, you can even salt exams with a few of the questions themselves, just to ease the burden.



                            Directed study guided by a test bank is good. It isn't the only thing that is important, but it gives them a start. Since this is most likely an entry level course for which such things exist it can mean that those that work the hardest get good marks.



                            In other words, I think your view of it is good and if you don't treat it as cheating then it won't be. But you might also warn them that not every professor will see it the same way, so they should use caution in extrapolating.






                            share|improve this answer













                            If the test bank is generally available then assume they have all seen it. But better yet, IMO, is to point it out to them and recommend it as a resource for studying. Tell them that they shouldn't expect any of those exact questions on any test, but that it will give them insight into the kinds of things that the author (and maybe you) think are worth asking.



                            For your part, you can then use the bank as a source of ideas for questions, though probably less for the questions themselves. If that is your general practice, you can even salt exams with a few of the questions themselves, just to ease the burden.



                            Directed study guided by a test bank is good. It isn't the only thing that is important, but it gives them a start. Since this is most likely an entry level course for which such things exist it can mean that those that work the hardest get good marks.



                            In other words, I think your view of it is good and if you don't treat it as cheating then it won't be. But you might also warn them that not every professor will see it the same way, so they should use caution in extrapolating.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered 5 hours ago









                            BuffyBuffy

                            52.9k15170262




                            52.9k15170262























                                0















                                If I am using a test bank to formulate a test based on a textbook, should I be concerned about students getting access to the test bank?




                                No more than you should be concerned about students getting copies of old test, which happens in (almost) every class. Fraternities and Sororities keep copies of old test, and students post them on the internet. Trying to keep all your test questions out of students hands is an already lost battle.



                                Ask students to show their work or explain their reasoning. That makes it a harder to memorize, and makes it more likely the student has to understand the question to answer it.






                                share|improve this answer




























                                  0















                                  If I am using a test bank to formulate a test based on a textbook, should I be concerned about students getting access to the test bank?




                                  No more than you should be concerned about students getting copies of old test, which happens in (almost) every class. Fraternities and Sororities keep copies of old test, and students post them on the internet. Trying to keep all your test questions out of students hands is an already lost battle.



                                  Ask students to show their work or explain their reasoning. That makes it a harder to memorize, and makes it more likely the student has to understand the question to answer it.






                                  share|improve this answer


























                                    0












                                    0








                                    0








                                    If I am using a test bank to formulate a test based on a textbook, should I be concerned about students getting access to the test bank?




                                    No more than you should be concerned about students getting copies of old test, which happens in (almost) every class. Fraternities and Sororities keep copies of old test, and students post them on the internet. Trying to keep all your test questions out of students hands is an already lost battle.



                                    Ask students to show their work or explain their reasoning. That makes it a harder to memorize, and makes it more likely the student has to understand the question to answer it.






                                    share|improve this answer














                                    If I am using a test bank to formulate a test based on a textbook, should I be concerned about students getting access to the test bank?




                                    No more than you should be concerned about students getting copies of old test, which happens in (almost) every class. Fraternities and Sororities keep copies of old test, and students post them on the internet. Trying to keep all your test questions out of students hands is an already lost battle.



                                    Ask students to show their work or explain their reasoning. That makes it a harder to memorize, and makes it more likely the student has to understand the question to answer it.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered 33 mins ago









                                    sevensevenssevensevens

                                    4,226924




                                    4,226924






























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