Under TASC’s Academic Integrity Policy and as one of the requirements of registration with TASC, schools must have, and enact, an academic integrity policy (see Standards for Providers of TASC-accredited courses). See also the Academic integrity resources for students.

Each school must have a policy in place and this must be available to TASC on request. A set of Guiding Questions is available to assist schools to develop their own internal processes.

This requirement applies to all schools that deliver TASC courses. However, where schools deliver Level 3 and 4 courses that have an external assessment component, such as a folio or other project work, the requirements are more rigorous. Schools must be able to assure TASC that the work submitted for external assessment is the work of the student and that all sources have been properly acknowledged.

All students are expected to observe the highest standards of honesty and integrity in the work they submit for assessment: this is called academic integrity. Actions that are a breach of academic integrity are listed in TASC’s Academic Integrity Policy.

Students can to use other people’s information, images, ideas or words in their work but they must be clear and open about what they have used, whose material it was and where they got it from.

Using a wide range of sources of information shows that a student has undertaken good preparation and study. Teachers and external markers reading or viewing student work must be able to clearly see what parts of it are the student’s own work, and what parts are from other people’s work, and where they got the information.

If students hand in work for assessment that is not all their own work and not referenced appropriately, this is called plagiarism, which is a form of cheating.

If students are found to be in breach of this rule, they risk the cancellation of their external results and possibly all of their results for the year, for both internally and externally assessed subjects.

Students also need to understand that honesty in assessment extends to not copying another student’s work, not getting others to complete work for them and not cheating in exams and tests.

Schools should develop internal processes that provide a consistent approach to ensuring the authenticity of student material submitted for assessment.

Students need to learn about academic integrity and its importance and they need to develop the necessary study skills to avoid plagiarism. Plagiarism is not limited to written work and can be found in student work in Arts, Media and Technology courses.

In addition to writing in their own words, students need to adopt good research and study skills and be able to reference correctly and acknowledge sources.

Students must take responsibility for acting honestly and ensuring their work meets the standards for academic integrity. This might include retaining early drafts, consulting regularly with their teacher and maintaining a learning log/journal.

Teachers should ensure that teaching and learning programs include the development of these skills and any others relevant to their course such as the use of specific referencing systems.

Teachers need to be vigilant and frequently view and discuss student work in progress, recording these discussions in student learning logs and/or class assessment records.

Teacher librarians can support students and teachers in developing their knowledge and understanding of academic integrity and provide guides to referencing and advice on web tools that can be used.

A set of Guiding Questions has been provided by TASC to assist schools to develop their own internal processes.

The TASC Academic Integrity Guide answers frequently asked questions and explains:

  • what academic integrity is
  • the different forms of academic dishonesty
  • the possible consequences of academic dishonesty
  • why the student declaration form is important.

A student declaration must be completed by all students undertaking one or more TASC courses (with some exceptions).

When students complete their student declaration they:

See Student Declaration for more information.

Some TASC Level 3 and 4 courses have an externally assessed component such as a folio or project and students and teachers are required to sign a Student Declaration form to verify that the material sent to TASC is the student’s own work. In doing this, the student and the teacher are confirming that the work was submitted by the required date and meets the school’s academic integrity requirements.

If a teacher does not endorse the student work, this may have serious consequences for the student. A student can request a review of that decision and schools should have documented processes that independently verify the student work.

There are serious consequences for a breach of the external assessment rules and TASC will take action if a Student Declaration form is signed and the folio is found to contain unacknowledged information, images, ideas or words. Penalties will depend on the seriousness of the offence.

See Folio assessment for more information.