According to a recent poll, more than 20 per cent of 3,081 Primary Four to Form Seven students said they had cheated in exams or copied work from classmates. Almost 65 per cent of students said they would not report cheating by other pupils. A teacher suggested why this happens. Students think too much about being the best, so some of them use unfair ways to pass tests. Also, the teacher thought students did not really understand how to be fair. This means they would not report cheats. I was unhappy to read the results of the poll. I think people who cheat are wrong. Also, anyone who does not report cheating is wrong. This is not fair. Teachers can use Olympic athletes as good examples of people who are successful and do not cheat. Jason Lam, SKH Li Fook Hing Secondary School From the Editor Thank you for taking the time to write to us, Jason. The poll on cheating certainly surprised many people. For some, it is difficult to justify such actions. Others think it is no big deal. The real losers, however, are the cheaters themselves. Tests are given so that teachers can check a student's progress in class. They are a way to find out if students are learning or whether they are having difficulty. So cheating gives the teacher the wrong idea that a student might be doing okay, when in reality they are struggling. It robs the cheater of a chance to correct the problems they are having in class. Susan, Editor