'Cheat' Fans Point Out 'Major Flaw' With Marking System
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New ITV psychological thriller Cheat gripped the nation last night, as university lecturer Dr Leah Dale and student Rose Vaughan's feud quickly became super twisted.
The first episode kicked off with Leah (Katherine Kelly) suspecting Rose (Molly Windsor) of cheating in her final dissertation, and decided to change her mark from an 81 to a fail after confronting her about it.
The lecturer stormed into the office just before the results were about to be submitted to scribble out Rose's original mark to fail her.
Just moments later, Rose received a text message telling her that she'd failed, and it's safe to she wasn't happy.
Things quickly turned ultra dark, with the student finding out Leah's home address, turning up late at night to intimidate her. And, it looks like Rose may have already killed the family cat, Betsy.
As the drama played out, viewers watching at home took to Twitter vent over a 'major flaw' with the entire premise of the plot.
Many fans were quick to point out that university lecturers don't know whose work they are marking to ensure there's no bias when it comes to the marking, meaning Leah could not know that the work had been submitted from Rose.
Anonymous!! Marking!! #Cheat
- Dr Hannah Murray (@hl_murray) March 11, 2019
I've caught one minute of #Cheat on ITV. She's submitting marks by hand. And she's hand-corrected a pass to a fail! It's the academic equivalent of a doctor in a medical drama pulling out a kidney from a patient on an operating table, pocketing it & saying "save that for later"
- Prof Neil Martin (@ThatNeilMartin) March 11, 2019
Watching ITV's #Cheat? I've given up:
- Jackie Urwin (@JackieUrwin) March 11, 2019
1 'Dissertation'? only one marker?
2 One-to-one with student & no witness
3 No Turnitin?
4 Goes into office, scribbles out 81% & changes it to 'FAIL' ??? On a piece of paper - implies - no moderaration, no exam board?
#Cheat is so inaccurate :joy: Did ITV not fancy researching what how universities mark dissertations before they filmed this??
- Laura Johnson (@LauraJxoxo) March 11, 2019
Scores also mentioned that the university would use plagiarism software to pick up whether a student had cheated, although it seems like Leah felt someone else had written Rose's work for her.
YOU CAN'T JUST CROSS OUT AND CHANGE A DISSERTATION MARK. YOU CAN'T FAIL SOMEONE WITHOUT SECOND MARKING IT. #Cheat
- Dr Hannah Murray (@hl_murray) March 11, 2019
#Cheat simple submission of dissertation through Turnitin would have resolved this mystery!
- Justin Champion (@monarchomach) March 11, 2019
Too many implausible events in #Cheat Dodgy dissertation marking; no sign of plagiarism software and student complaint procedures; accessibility of lecturer's address, to name a few. Hmm.:mortar_board::slight_smile:
- Liz Yeomans (@lizyeomans1) March 11, 2019
And others felt it was unrealistic that Leah could barge her way into the office and change the mark so easily.
Did the writer of #cheat ever write a dissertation. If they had, they'd know there is a process to follow such as second marking and investigation. You don't just fail someone because of a feeling.
- Em (@warrior_queen61) March 11, 2019
#Cheat I am pretty sure that a fail on a dissertation (looked like a very short one which barely merited the name) is not handled like that. Plagiarism software is used at secondary schools never mind Cambridge!! V shaky start to this drama...
- Fiona (@Shoutynl) March 11, 2019
Cheat has been widely praised by viewers who were gripped by the writing from the get-go. The episode ended on Leah's husband Adam dead in a morgue, and it looks like both Leah and Rose are suspects.
Cheat continues tonight on ITV at 9pm, with the final two episodes airing on Wednesday and Thursday.
Topics: TV Entertainment