East Durham College - Infringement of Assessment Regulations Procedure

PROCEDURE TITLE: Infringement of Assessment Regulations
DOCUMENT NUMBER: 4.1.3 
PROCEDURE GROUP: Teaching, Learning & Assessment
AUTHOR / REVISOR / OWNER: Ellen Fishwick 
DATE OF CURRENT VERSION: January 2023
REVIEW DATE: September 2025

All students having assessment carried out by East Durham College.

Scribes are permitted into an exam location if previously approved.  

Students can request examination papers in an alternative language should it be required. 

COMMENTS

Cheating in Exams 

Cheating includes the following: 

• Copying from any other student  
• Communicating with any person other than a properly authorised invigilator or another authorised member of staff 
• Introducing any written or printed material into an examination room unless expressly permitted 
• Introducing any electronically stored information into an examination room, unless expressly permitted by the regulations for the assessment. 
• Gaining access to any unauthorised material relating to an examination or other assessment during or before the specified time 
• Obtaining a copy of an ‘unseen’ written examination paper in advance of the date and time for its authorised release 

Plagiarism 

Plagiarism is the deliberate and unacknowledged insertion into a student’s work of material taken from the work, published or unpublished, of another person. 

Collusion 

Collusion occurs where a student: 

1. knowingly submits as entirely their own work done in collaboration with another person or 
2. collaborates with another student in the completion of work which they know is intended to be submitted as that other student’s own unaided work; or 
3. knowingly permits another student to copy all or part of their own work and submit it as that student’s own unaided work. 

Other Infringements 

Impersonation is the assumption by one person of the identity of another person with intent to deceive.  It includes the following: 

1. Where one person assumes the identity of a student with the intention of holding out his work as that of the other person 
2. Where the student knowingly allows another person to be held out as the student for the purpose of completing 

Any other form of dishonest practice not falling within the above categories may amount to assessment infringement (for example, the offering of inducement) 

N.B.  Assessment = examinations, coursework, essays or assignments, projects, dissertations, practical work, placement or field trip reports and the production of artefacts 

Any other form of dishonest practice not falling within the above categories may amount to assessment infringement (for example, the offering of inducements). 

Failure to report malpractice to the awarding body will be judged as centre malpractice. 

If the student is studying on an HE programmes, the investigation findings will be discussed with the University Faculty Managers and if judged appropriate the University will enter the disciplinary procedure supported by the College Assistant Programme Leader. 

Course teams must raise the issue of assessment infringement at induction and throughout the course. 

Course handbooks issued to students must make reference to infringements in its content. 

An allegation of assessment infringement is not the same as proof of the incident.  

External Assessment Infringement 

Exams 

1.  The exam invigilator records incidents that may be judged as malpractice and forwards a statement to the examinations department within 24 hours. 
2. The examination department inform the MIS and Exams Director immediately and presents the statement for appropriate action and decision on receipt from the invigilator. 
3. The MIS and Exams Director following further investigation, informs the examination team if malpractice has occurred in accordance with awarding body regulations. 
4. The Vice Principal (C&P) must inform the awarding body in all cases of malpractice.
5. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in cases of malpractice. 

• 4.2 - EDC Behaviour Policy  
• 4.1.4 - Centre Assessment Malpractice 
• Regulating body’s guidance documents 
• University of Sunderland – Quality Handbook – Statement of Plagiarism 

This document is issued and controlled by Quality & Standards and may only be modified by the designated group after proposed modifications have been accepted by the College Management Group. The latest version of the policy will be maintained on the College Extranet.

Please feedback to Quality & Standards any constructive suggestions on how any aspect of the policy may be clarified or improved.