Cheating students copied material directly from websites

A NUMBER of cheating students had results withheld for copying material directly from websites and other sources for part of the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP), an analysis of the last two years’ papers revealed.

The State Examinations Commission chief examiners made the observation in a report on the programme’s links module taken by 14,000 students at almost 600 schools in 2004 and 2005. The cheating was found in the portfolio element of the course, worth 60% of total marks and prepared mainly in class over two years.

Candidates are forbidden from using material downloaded directly from websites or copied from other sources.