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    It isn't limited to what takes place during the exam. For example, consider the case of acquiring a copy of the current exam ahead of time. Commented Mar 13, 2019 at 1:57
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    @user207421: No, this technically (and legally) is not cheating. If you acquire the copy by illegal measures (e.g., paying someone to hack into your supervisors computer), this is a case for criminal law and treated as such. Point is that if – for whatever reason – the current exam was leaked before its actual date, it becomes invalid for the whole class. This supersedes any kind of cheating in that actual exam. Commented Mar 13, 2019 at 13:42
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    @Daniel: you're making an argument from law - what law? what jurisdiction? As far as I'm aware, where I am (in the UK), cheating and other academic misconduct is a matter for the academic institution concerned, which will have its own policies and disciplinary procedures that students are explicitly or implicitly signed up to. Commented Mar 13, 2019 at 13:52
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    There's an example here of a university which suspended students for using a study-tool app which was loaded with past papers; insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2018/05/11/… Commented Mar 13, 2019 at 13:53
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    @JoeLee-Moyet: Very important point, thanks! I have added some context. However, I think that the general statement holds for any western system: While the institution defines what constitutes unauthorised behaviour, it has to follow general principles of law (e.g., principle of proportionality, principle of transparency, in dubio per reo). "Having access to old exams" and "got a good grade" would probably fail everywhere as constituting a case of cheating. Commented Mar 13, 2019 at 14:30