AITA for ratting two people out for cheating on a final exam?

Shirley Stafford Hours
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In a quiet university lecture hall, the tension of a final exam hung thick in the air, with students hunched over their papers, pencils scratching furiously. One student, caught in the grind of a brutal test, glanced up at the clock—only to spot a sneaky act unfolding nearby. What would you do if you caught classmates cheating, knowing their actions could tank everyone’s grades? This tale of academic betrayal and quick thinking has Reddit buzzing with opinions.

Our protagonist, a diligent student, faced a moral tug-of-war during a high-stakes exam. Spotting notecards and sneaky whispers, they wrestled with a choice: stay silent or speak up. The decision to discreetly alert the professor sparked a chain of events that left two cheaters ousted from the exam room. This story dives into the ethics of snitching, the pressure of academic curves, and the fine line between loyalty and fairness.

‘AITA for ratting two people out for cheating on a final exam?’

Yesterday, I took a final exam for one of my courses (this is university btw) and I looked up to check the clock to see how much time I had left when I noticed the guy next to me had notecards underneath his test. Moments later, he poked his friend's back, who happened to be sitting in the seat in front of them, and leaned over their shoulder to see their test.

This exam was brutal and if they happened to do well then they could've messed up the curve for the entire class (which is only about 30 students). So I wrote a note on my test saying what was going on and asked my professor if I could go to the restroom.

I gave her my test for safekeeping and pointed it out. She nodded and I went to the bathroom (I actually did have to go). When I came back, she handed me my test where she had written that she'll take care of it. She was watching them for the rest of the class and eventually caught them in the act.

She confiscated their tests and took them outside. They did not return. Now some of my friends are telling me that I did the right thing because they were stupid for trying to cheat on a final in college while some of them are saying that it was wrong of me because school is difficult. Also cheating results in automatic failure in this class.

Edit: When I said 'They did not return.' I meant just the two guys, the professor did. I only told four people, none of whom are in the class or know anyone in it. Two don’t even live in my state and I told them over text message.

Catching classmates cheating can feel like stumbling into a moral minefield. Our Redditor’s quick thinking—slipping a note to the professor—was a bold move, but was it the right one? The situation pits personal ethics against collective fairness, especially when a grading curve is at play. The cheaters risked skewing everyone’s grades, but some friends argued that “school is hard” justifies cutting corners. Let’s unpack this with some expert insight.

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Dr. Susan D. Blum, an anthropologist studying academic integrity, notes in a 2016 article from The Chronicle of Higher Education (chronicle.com), “Students cheat when they feel pressure to perform beyond their capabilities or when the system seems unfair.” Here, the cheaters’ notecards and whispers suggest desperation, but their actions threatened the class’s fairness. Blum’s perspective highlights why cheating isn’t just a personal failing—it’s a systemic issue tied to academic pressure.

This incident reflects a broader problem: academic dishonesty undermines trust. A 2018 study from the International Center for Academic Integrity found that 68% of college students admitted to cheating at least once (academicintegrity.org). The OP’s decision to report the cheating upheld the class’s integrity but also sparked debate about loyalty. Should you protect peers or the system? The professor’s swift action—confiscating tests and removing the cheaters—suggests the institution prioritizes fairness.

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For those facing similar dilemmas, experts recommend discreet reporting, as our Redditor did. Universities often have honor codes, and violating them can lead to failure or expulsion. If you’re torn, consider anonymous reporting options or discussing concerns with a trusted advisor. Balancing empathy for peers with fairness to the group is tricky but crucial.

Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:

Reddit didn’t hold back on this one—here’s the tea, served with a side of sass! The community weighed in with fiery takes, applauding the OP’s ninja-like reporting while roasting the cheaters’ boldness. Check out the top reactions:

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aKamikazePilot − NTA. The cheating was going to influence the curve of the exam and ultimately have an effect on your final grade. They played a stupid game, and won a stupid prize.

twist-17 − NTA. People like that end up getting jobs they don’t deserve, taking them from people that they should actually go to. They end up way in over their head, making mistakes and not knowing what to do (even on the most simple and basic s**t in whatever career field) when they get a job they aren’t actually qualified to do, due to inflated and fake credentials.

Employers *actually* look at your transcripts and partially base their hiring process for entry level jobs off of them (depending on your career field). If your transcripts are the results of you cheating, you’re essentially lying on your application and misrepresenting yourself. Making them the assholes.. Also, if your teacher grades on a curve they’re essentially f**king over all of their classmates. F**k them.

[Reddit User] − NTA they're lucky to just fail the class. If you cheat or plagiarize at my uni you're banned from the school for at least a full year.

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Sagerie − NTA They chose to cheat and they were aware of the consequences.. This could have affected your grade, as well as everyone else's in the class.

realclearmews − NTA. Super smart way to tell the teacher.

plzstoptalkingg − NTA I hate to sound like a nerd but cheating is s**t especially when a curve could be impacted

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[Reddit User] − NTA - school is hard, but why should they get an advantage over every one else that has worked hard? It’s not like you just called them out in front of the class, you pointed it out and they were caught doing it.

MfknHoHo − NTA. Were any of them kids whose celebrity parents bought their spot with forged SAT scores? Too soon?

wickedwiccan90 − NTA and Academic Advisor here. You absolutely did the right thing. Cheating is a violation of any university's honor policy, and could result in punishment ranging from failing the class to expulsion.

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Just saying that so you're prepared in case you hear they were expelled later. In any event, 'school is hard' is not an excuse. Academics aside, cheating speaks to their character and disrespects the hard work of the rest of you.

[Reddit User] − NTA, even if they wouldn't have changed the curve. They did this to themselves.

These Reddit hot takes are spicy, but do they capture the full picture? Some see the OP as a hero for protecting the curve, while others wonder if empathy for struggling peers should’ve won out. Either way, the comments show how cheating stirs up strong feelings.

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This tale of exam-room drama leaves us pondering: where’s the line between loyalty and fairness? Our Redditor chose to protect the class’s integrity, but the debate rages on—snitch or stay silent? The professor’s decisive action ensured consequences, but the moral gray area lingers. What would you do if you caught someone cheating in a high-stakes situation? Drop your thoughts below and let’s keep this conversation going!

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