Which of the following actions would be considered an example of academic dishonesty?

• A. Submitting your own work with proper citations
• B. Copying material without documentation
• C. Asking for extra time with permission
• D. Stealing examination materials

Answer: (D)

In academic settings, integrity means being honest in your work and respecting the rules that ensure fair evaluation. Stealing examination materials is the clearest example of academic dishonesty because it involves taking restricted content and using it to gain an unfair advantage, directly compromising the integrity of the assessment and violating institutional rules and, in many cases, laws. It harms everyone by undermining trust in the learning environment and violates the expectations of honesty that underpin education. By contrast, submitting your own work with proper citations demonstrates integrity, while copying material without documentation is also dishonest because it misrepresents others’ ideas as your own. Asking for extra time with permission is appropriate when allowed, and does not constitute dishonesty.