Students and professors: Do you think it's okay to buy old copies of exams?

Question

Getting old copies of exams to as study aids. What is your viewpoint on this? Have you or your students done this?

sorry, typo. *to use as study aids

Answer 1

If you know that the teacher uses the same test every semester then I wouldn't obtain an old copy of the test, otherwise I think it is ok. I have done this a few times and once the professor used the same test over and I had been studying from the previous year's test. I turned myself in when the test came back, however the professor didn't care.

Answer 2

It depends on whom you buy them from. I think if there is an official outlet, and the professor has released his/her old exams for sale, it's fine. If a student from last semester is selling exams from which the professor intended to reuse a question or two, it is pretty sleazy. I've had students tell me that they were offered copies of my exams for sale as if they were current - the only problem being that I had not yet written the exam.

Answer 3

The Honor Society at my college has a free test bank of old exams for people to use as a study aid. If it's OK for them I guess it's OK for everyone else.

Answer 4

I'm a student and I think it's perfectly fine. In fact, many of our professors have given us old exams to use.

Answer 5

as far as experience goes, i never needed to fork out money for old exam questions. they are usually made available for students who are preparing for the exam.

however, if you meant purchasing someone's answers, then i think it is up to you. there is nothing illegal about it, nor do i think it is inappropriate provided you do not rely on the answers too much that it hinders your own thinking on the questions. remember the answers may not necessarily be correct. using them as a guide is good and always helpful.

Answer 6

it's ok because you can exam yourself before your professors exam you. i always do this and it pays.