INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE HONOR CODE
WINTER PARK HIGH SCHOOL
As a student of the IB Diploma program or the pre-IB Diploma Program at Winter Park High
School, you are expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity and support
the IB Mission statement which “aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young
people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding
and respect.” All IB Diploma Prep and IB Diploma students are required to exhibit behavior
consistent with the school/district code of conduct. Violations will be processed through the IB
Honor Code Committee. Severe violations may lead to exit from the program.
The members of the IB faculty are opposed to malpractice (cheating) for several reasons:
Students who are mature enough to select a difficult and valuable program
must also be mature enough to face a low grade when they’ve earned it.
Malpractice allows a student to receive the same or better grade than students
who have put in the time and effort to master the material. Dishonestly inflated
grades ultimately and unfairly raise the cheater’s grade point and class rank,
simultaneously lowering the rank of students who study.
Not only does malpractice misrepresent a student’s mastery of the subject to
parents, employers, and colleges, it also distorts the teacher’s perception of
curriculum effectiveness and class progress.
The threat of malpractice forces the teacher to patrol and sleuth; these are activities that
reduce the amount of time he or she has available for productive teaching and course
improvement.
The adherents of almost all religions and philosophies believe malpractice to be
morally wrong.
So that the expectations of the IB faculty are clear, we have compiled a list of behaviors we
unanimously agree are forms of malpractice.
1. Looking on someone else’s paper during a test or quiz.
2. Plagiarizing another’s words or ideas (including data downloaded from the
internet) in a report or research paper, or Extended Essay.
3. Telling someone who has not taken a test or quiz what the questions or
problems are.
4. Asking someone who has taken a test or quiz what the questions or
problems are.
5. Conferring with other students or with adults on a take-home exam when the
teacher has asked that all work be your own.
6. Writing notes in a convenient place and referring to them during a test or
quiz.
7. Sliding your paper into the viewing range of another student during a test or
quiz.
8. Working out signals and using them to help someone on a test or quiz.
9. Looking at the paper of a student who is still working on a test when you
come into the room from another class; checking out the teacher’s desk to
see what might be helpful.
10. Misrepresenting the submission of information (events, hours, or other data)
regarding the CAS component of the program.
11. The copying of any independently designed assignments.
The Orange County Code of Student Conduct defines malpractice as follows:
Willful or deliberate unauthorized use of the work of another person for academic
purposes, or unauthorized use of notes or other material in the completion of an
academic assignment or test. In addition to disciplinary responses, the student may
receive no credit for this assignment, test or exam at the discretion of the teacher.
International Baccalaureate policy statements on malpractice are as follows:
Where malpractice is proven, a grade of “N” is awarded and no further registration by the
candidate is allowed.
If malpractice, collusion or plagiarism is suspected in external or internally assessed
components of the examination, IBO must be contacted immediately.
Both IB and WPHS will treat malpractice as a serious matter. In addition to receiving
disciplinary action, an IB student who is found guilty of malpractice will be a candidate for exit
from IB. If a student has been found guilty of malpractice, he or she will not be recommended
for National Honor Society or any of the other honor societies; if the student is already a
member, the sponsor of the organization and the principal will be notified.
Whether you are specifically asked to sign the honor pledge for each IB assignment or not, it will
be understood that as an IB student you will always be able to sign the following:
On my honor, I promise that I have neither given nor received help on this
assignment/examination, nor will I pass on information to others.
I have read, understand, and agree to the terms of the IB Honor Code.
Student Name (Printed)
Signature
Date
Parent’s signature
Date