Abstract:
The practice of exam cheating (cola, pesca, fila, in Brazil; copianço, in Portugal) has increased worldwide (ECKSTEIN, 2003). Besides theethical dimension that merits consideration, this practice can bring significant implications for the quality of student's formation as well as undermining it. The problem addressed in this article is exam's cheating in Brazil and Portugal. The goal is to describe and analyze results of surveys conducted in Higher Education Institutions in these countries. The literature provided support for the analysis of data collected through interviews and questionnaires with students. The analysis and interpretation of the results reveal, beyond the permanence of this wide practice in Brazilian universities, among other things, different motivations for the practice of fraud, which do not prevent the consideration by those who practice it as bad or reprehensible.
Key words:
Learning evaluation; Exam cheating; High education