# Is test preparation an act of cheating?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-test-preparation-an-act-of-cheating/650663>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [February 18, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-test-preparation-an-act-of-cheating/650663 "2013-02-18T03:28:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![JamesQueue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@JamesQueue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesQueue)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-test-preparation-an-act-of-cheating/650663/1 "2013-02-18T03:28:11Z")

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When I was growing up I never got the sense that anyone thought test preparation was anything less than commendable. At least that was how I remembered it. I sense a change in attitude about test prep, some people seem to argue that it’s a form of cheating. Parents who pay for extra test prep help are criticized for having subverted the purpose of the test. I’m inclined to think that this insane, I find it hard to find fault with anyone who wants to do as well as she can. What’s wrong with that? Yet, I’ve looked with a raised eyebrow at people who were singularly obsessed with doing well on a particular test. Was I jealous of them? They were out-competing against me.

In the end, I can’t find fault with test prep. People who do are probably hate’N.

First, do you sense this change in attitude? If so, how do you feel about it.

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**Author:** ![JamesQueue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/858c86/32.png) [@JamesQueue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JamesQueue)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-test-preparation-an-act-of-cheating/650663/2 "2013-02-18T03:29:51Z")

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[http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/nyregion/new-york-city-schools-struggle-to-separate-the-gifted-from-the-just-well-prepared.html?hp](http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/nyregion/new-york-city-schools-struggle-to-separate-the-gifted-from-the-just-well-prepared.html?hp)

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**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2013, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-test-preparation-an-act-of-cheating/650663/3 "2013-02-18T03:39:02Z")

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Going to close this one as you already have a thread about this.