An FOI request for information concerning the percentage of cases of plagiarism in LLB examinations which took place in 2021 was made to the University of London. Initially the University withheld the information on the grounds that “the statistics covered by your information request are commercially sensitive and therefore considered exempt under Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act, ‘Commercial Interests’, where disclosure would be likely to prejudice the University’s commercial interests.”
However, following a complaint to the Information Commissioners Office the University changed its position and has now provided the information requested. The information is published below, followed by similar information in respect of 2020.
TABLE 1: all modules combined 2021
In respect of all LLB modules combined (a) the percentage of examination scripts marked in 2021 in respect of which formal accusations of plagiarism, cheating, collusion or other examination offence were presented and (b) the percentage of scripts found to have amounted to plagiarism, cheating, collusion or other examination offence.
| 2021 | % scripts with formal allegation | % scripts with proven offence | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plagiarism | Other exam offences | Total | Plagiarism | Other exam offences | Total | |
| All LLB modules combined | 4.31% | 0.02% | 4.33% | 4.19% | 0.01% | 4.2% |
TABLE 2: by separate module 2021
In respect of each of the following LLB modules separately (Criminal Law, LSM, Public Law, Contract Law, Tort Law, Property Law, Equity & Trusts, EU Law and Jurisprudence) (a) the percentage of examination scripts marked in 2021 in respect of which formal accusations of plagiarism, cheating, collusion or other examination offence were presented and (b) the percentage of scripts found to have amounted to plagiarism, cheating, collusion or other examination offence.’
| 2021 | % scripts with formal allegation | % scripts with proven offence | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plagiarism | Other exam offences | Total | Plagiarism | Other exam offences | Total | |
| Criminal Law | 5.25% | ?0.06% | 5.31% | 5.00% | 0.06% | 5.06% |
| LSM | 3.92% | 0.00% | 3.92% | 3.79% | 0.00% | 3.79% |
| Public Law | 4.76% | 0.03% | 4.80% | 4.69% | 0.03% | 4.72% |
| Contract Law | 3.77% | 0.00% | 3.77% | 3.67% | 0.00% | 3.67% |
| Tort Law | 5.37% | ?0.2% | 5.39% | 5.19% | 0.00% | 5.19% |
| Property Law | 3.75% | 0.00% | 3.75% | 3.61% | 0.00% | 3.61% |
| Equity & Trusts | 3.89% | 0.00% | 3.89% | 3.86% | 0.00% | 3.86% |
| EU Law | 5.15% | 0.00% | 5.15% | 5.03% | 0.00% | 5.03% |
| Jurisprudence | 3.20% | ?0.03% | 3.23% | 3.02% | 0.00% | 3.02% |
Note: The University points out that it does not record any information under ‘cheating’ and it did not find any instances of collusion.
TABLE 3: 2020
Information about the percentage of scripts in LLB examinations for the calendar year 2020 (May / June and October / November combined) which led to (i) formal accusations and (ii) findings of plagiarism and other examination offences.
| 2020 | Formal accusations of plagiarism or other examination offence | Proven offence of plagiarism or other examination offence |
|---|---|---|
| All LLB modules | 1.04% | 0.997% |
| Criminal Law | 0.35% | 0.33% |
| Public Law | 2.95% | 2.89% |
| LSM | 0.94% | 0.94% |
| Contract Law | 0.93% | 0.84% |
| Tort Law | 0.41% | 0.38% |
| Equity & Trusts | 1% | 1% |
| Property Law | 0.95% | 0.9% |
| EU Law | 1.05% | 1.01% |
| Jurisprudence | 1.15% | 1.1% |
2018 & 2019: For information concerning incidents of cheating in UOL LLB examinations in 2018 and 2019 please CLICK HERE
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