Cambridge English malpractice procedure for
teaching qualifications (CELTA, DELTA, TKT)

What is malpractice?

Malpractice is behaviour which aims to give unfair advantage to a candidate or causes disadvantage to other candidates.

Examples of malpractice include, but are not limited to:

• obtaining or allowing unauthorised access to examination material
• disruptive behaviour during an examination or not following the instructions of an invigilator, supervisor or Centre Exams Manager, e.g. use of mobile phones or other electronic devices
• using or trying to use unauthorised material, e.g. notes or study guides during an examination
• impersonation (pretending to be someone else)
• attempting to copy or to allow your work to be copied
• working in collaboration with someone else when this is not authorised 
• intentional and/or unintentional plagiarism (using someone else’s work without due acknowledgment)
• using paid-for or free assignment-writing services.

Where can you find general information about malpractice on Teaching Qualifications?

Information outlining the rules and regulations for examinations and coursework, as well as the consequences of malpractice can be found in the following:

1. Examinations

• Notice to Candidates, which is displayed outside all examination rooms.

2. DELTA

• DELTA Modules Handbook for tutors and candidates available on the Cambridge English website.
• Statement of Originality for DELTA Module 3 candidates.

3. CELTA

• CELTA 5 booklet.
• Centre policy on plagiarism.

4. Centres can also find additional information in the following resources:

What is the timescale?

For examinations (i.e. TKT, DELTA Module 1) the malpractice procedure will start when exam papers become available and will continue through to the results release date. However, in instances where new evidence of malpractice is discovered, the malpractice procedure may run after results release date.

For extended written work, the procedure will start when malpractice is first suspected. This could be during the course or from the submission deadline date and will continue to the results release date. However, in instances where new evidence of malpractice is discovered, the malpractice procedure may run after results release date.

What happens to the results of candidates during the investigation?

Suspected malpractice investigations are carried out separately and independently from normal marking procedures. If no evidence of malpractice is found, the candidate’s original result will be released. The candidate’s result is therefore not affected in any way by the malpractice investigation.

The results for candidates suspected of malpractice will be withheld until the investigation is complete. This may mean that their results are released later than other candidates in the same group. If the investigation shows that there was malpractice, then the candidate's results will be cancelled.

Please note that if suspicions of malpractice are raised after the results release date, an investigation will take place and the candidate’s result may be cancelled. 

How is suspected malpractice investigated?

Examinations (DELTA Module 1 and TKT)

Step 1 – Malpractice behaviour is suspected

Anyone can suspect and report malpractice.

1. Candidates, invigilators, tutors, assessors etc. can raise suspicions about malpractice. These suspicions are reported to the Centre who will complete a Malpractice Report Form from the Support Site to communicate the suspicion to Cambridge English for scrutiny.
2. Examiners, Cambridge English results Validation Officers and Assessment Managers can also raise suspicions of malpractice after analysing the results of standard, systematic checks. These checks include (but are not limited to) the following types of analysis:
   • comparing the similarity of response patterns, or marks, between two or more candidates
   • comparing the performance of a candidate on one test paper to their performance on the other papers
   • comparing the performance of a candidate on one test date to their performance on a previous test date
   • assessing the likelihood of certain responses and scores given the overall ability of a candidate
   • analysing key stroke activity (in a computer-based test).

Step 2 – Information is gathered on suspected malpractice case

Cambridge English assessment staff will gather all available information from report forms and statistical analyses. They will write to the Centre for reports from the invigilator, assessor, examiner etc., along with the exam room seating plan. The candidate will be given the opportunity to provide a written statement to present their case.

Step 3 – All evidence is scrutinised

Cambridge English assessment staff will carefully review all of the information gathered above and decide whether there is enough evidence to suggest that malpractice has taken place. The following decision will be made:

• if there is not enough evidence, the malpractice case is dropped and the candidate’s original result will be released as normal. The Centre will receive a letter to tell them of the outcome
• if it is thought that there is evidence of malpractice, all information will be taken to the Malpractice Review Panel to be reviewed and discussed.

Step 4 – Malpractice Review Panel

The Malpractice Review Panel discuss all the information presented above and make a final decision on whether malpractice has taken place or not. The Malpractice Review Panel includes Assessment Specialists/Cambridge English Assessment staff who have not been involved in the investigation. The decision will be arrived at in a fair and independent manner.

There are 3 possible outcomes which can be found in Step 5 below.  

Step 5 – Possible Outcomes from the Malpractice Review Panel

• No malpractice has occurred – the candidate's original result is released unchanged. The Centre is informed.
• There is evidence of malpractice – the candidate's result is permanently withheld and the Centre is informed. No result is released.
• There is substantial or repeated evidence of malpractice – the candidate's result is permanently withheld and the candidate is banned from re-entering the examination for a period of up to three years. The Centre is informed and no result is released.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the Centre to inform the candidate of all communications above.

Step 6 – Appealing a decision

The candidate can appeal against the final decision by requesting a Stage 1 Appeal via their centre. Centres can access detailed information via the Teaching Awards Appeals Procedure on the Cambridge English Support Site for centres.

Additional information:

• The processes described in Steps 1–6 above are designed to allow for robust protections of our qualifications.
• All decisions are made on the information that is supplied to the Malpractice Review Panel within the timescale set out above.
• The Malpractice Review Panel will seek to make a reasonable assessment on the facts presented.
• The candidate is deemed to have accepted and understood the regulations by sitting the exam or submitting their work for assessment, and it will be for the candidate to prove that any discretion sought is appropriate or; that a decision made via the above process is not in itself a reasonable outcome for the Malpractice Review Panel to have reached.

Extended written work (CELTA and DELTA Modules 2 and 3)

Step 1 – Malpractice behaviour is suspected

Anyone can suspect and report malpractice. This can include: candidates, invigilators, tutors, assessors etc. These suspicions are reported to the Centre who will complete a Malpractice Report Form from the Cambridge English Support Site for centres to communicate the suspicion to Cambridge English for scrutiny.

Cambridge English internal staff can also raise suspicions of malpractice.

Step 2 – Information is gathered on suspected malpractice case

Cambridge English will inform the Centre of the reasons for the malpractice case being raised, and the Centre is required to inform the candidate. The candidate is invited to provide the Centre with a statement, which the Centre sends to Cambridge English.

This statement is an opportunity for the candidate to represent their view which will be taken into consideration as part of the investigation.

Step 3 – All evidence is scrutinised

Cambridge English will review the information gathered (see below) and this will be considered at the Malpractice Review Panel meeting. This will include;

• reports from the Centre, assessors, moderators etc
• the Candidate statement if this is submitted
• use of plagiarism checking software (reports are interpreted by assessment specialists)
• scrutiny of matches between candidates’ work from present and past sessions
• expert scrutiny of candidate’s work against published sources and sources on open publishing platforms.

Cambridge English assessment staff will review all the information gathered above and decide whether there is enough evidence to suggest that malpractice has taken place.

If it is thought that there is evidence of malpractice, all information will be taken to the Malpractice Review Panel to be discussed.

Step 4 – Malpractice Review Panel

The Malpractice Review Panel will discuss all the evidence and make a final decision regarding the outcome. The Malpractice Review Panel includes Assessment Specialists/Cambridge English Assessment staff who have not been involved in the investigation. The decision will be arrived at in a fair and independent manner.

There are 3 possible outcomes which can be found in Step 5 below.

Step 5 – Possible Outcomes from the Malpractice Review Panel

• No malpractice has occurred – the candidate's original result is released unchanged.
• There is evidence of malpractice – the candidate's result is permanently withheld. No result is released.
• There is substantial evidence of deliberate and intentional malpractice or evidence of malpractice on previous occasions – the candidate's result is permanently withheld and the candidate is banned from re-entering for the qualification/award for a period of up to three years. No result is released.

For each possible outcome, the centre is informed of the decision with an Outcome letter for the candidate. It is the responsibility of the Centre to inform the candidate.

For DELTA Module 2, candidates who have their results withheld may submit a new internal and/or external assignment, consisting of Background Essay, Lesson Plan, Assessed Teaching, and Reflection and Evaluation. This will be confirmed in the Outcome letter that the candidate receives.

For DELTA Module 3, candidates who have their results withheld may submit a new assignment on a new specialism in the next session. This will be confirmed in the Outcome letter that the candidate receives.

Step 6 – Appealing a decision

The candidate can appeal against the final decision by requesting a Stage 1 Appeal via their centre. Centres can access detailed information via the Teaching Awards Appeals Procedure on the Cambridge English Support Site for centres.

Additional information:

• The processes described above are designed to allow for robust protections of our qualifications.
• All decisions are made on the information that is supplied to the Malpractice Review Panel within the timescale set out above.
• The Malpractice Review Panel will seek to make a reasonable assessment on the facts presented.
• The candidate is deemed to have accepted and understood the regulations by sitting the exam or submitting their work for assessment, and it will be for the candidate to prove that any discretion sought is appropriate or; that a decision made via the above process is not in itself a reasonable outcome for the Malpractice Review Panel to have reached.

Further information