2.4 Detecting plagiarism
Explore how plagiarism can be detected and the consequences of plagiarising.
It’s easier to detect plagiarism than you might think. Sometimes, it's obvious that a student is plagiarising because:
- the tone of their writing changes throughout
- they’ve never written like this before
- the quality of their submitted work is very different from the quality of their work in class
- the reference list, bibliography or other required acknowledgments are missing.
If your teachers or external markers suspect you have plagiarised, they may:
- check your reference list
- check online if they suspect any parts of your work are plagiarised
- ask you about your research to confirm that your actual knowledge of the subject is consistent with the level of knowledge in your submitted work.
Teachers are experts in their subject matter and are very familiar with the course material. It’s very likely that they used the same sources as you when setting the task.
Teachers and external markers can easily spot plagiarism. They have ways of checking your work for plagiarism, which may include plagiarism detection software.
What are the consequences of plagiarism?
The consequences of all forms of academic malpractice, including plagiarism, are very serious.
If you commit academic malpractice, including plagiarism, in a Stage 6 school-based assessment, you may receive a penalty based on your school’s academic malpractice policy. In Year 12, your school will also be required to record your academic malpractice in The Malpractice Register.
NESA deals with all cases of suspected academic malpractice in HSC exams and HSC minimum standard tests.
If NESA finds that you’ve committed academic malpractice, including plagiarism, in an HSC exam, the consequences could be:
- you receive a zero mark or reduced marks for the exam
- your course is cancelled.
These consequences could mean you are not eligible for the HSC.
You can set yourself up for success in your HSC by practising good study habits and academic integrity in every part of your work.
Check your understanding
After you have worked through Topic 2, complete the quiz to confirm your understanding of the content.
Once you have completed the quiz, please return to the homepage and select Topic 3