Introduction
In the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), learning is built on trust, integrity, and respect. The Academic Honesty Policy exists to make sure that all students develop these values as part of their academic and personal growth.
More than a set of rules, this policy helps students understand what responsible scholarship looks like — how to research, cite, collaborate, and reflect ethically. In this guide, we’ll break down what academic honesty means in the MYP, what behaviors to avoid, and how students can maintain integrity in all their work.
What Is Academic Honesty?
Academic honesty means completing your own work while giving proper credit to others for their ideas or contributions. It involves honesty in research, writing, collaboration, and assessment.
The IB defines it as:
“A set of values and behaviors that promote personal integrity and good practice in teaching, learning, and assessment.”
In simple terms, being academically honest means:
- Doing your own thinking and expressing ideas in your own words.
- Acknowledging sources when using someone else’s work.
- Following school and IB guidelines on research and collaboration.
- Acting ethically in all assessments and projects.
Why It Matters
The Academic Honesty Policy is about character and fairness. Students who uphold it:
- Build credibility and self-respect.
- Earn genuine grades that reflect their abilities.
- Prepare for ethical behavior in higher education and life.
Violating this policy undermines not only one’s own learning but also the fairness and integrity of the IB community.
Key Principles of Academic Honesty
- Integrity: Always be truthful about the origin of your ideas and the help you’ve received.
- Respect: Acknowledge the intellectual work of others through proper citation.
- Responsibility: Manage time effectively to avoid shortcuts like plagiarism.
- Transparency: Be open about your methods, sources, and collaboration.
These principles are embedded in the IB Learner Profile, particularly in the traits of being principled, reflective, and communicators.
What Counts as Academic Misconduct
Academic misconduct happens when a student intentionally or accidentally presents work that is not entirely their own. The most common examples include:
- Plagiarism: Copying text, ideas, or media from a source without citation.
- Collusion: Allowing someone else to copy your work or working together when individual work is required.
- Duplication: Submitting the same piece of work for multiple tasks or subjects.
- Fabrication: Inventing data, quotes, or sources.
- Cheating: Using unauthorized notes, technology, or assistance during an assessment.
Even unintentional mistakes — like forgetting quotation marks or citation details — can count as misconduct. Learning proper referencing early helps prevent these errors.
How Schools Promote Academic Honesty
Each IB school develops its own Academic Honesty Policy in line with IB principles. Common school strategies include:
- Teaching citation and referencing skills from early MYP years.
- Using plagiarism detection software for major projects.
- Holding integrity workshops before assessments.
- Requiring signed student declarations for major submissions (e.g., the Personal Project).
These measures aren’t meant to punish students but to educate them about ethical research and authorship.
Citing Sources Correctly
Proper citation is a vital part of academic honesty. Students should always:
- Include a bibliography with all referenced materials.
- Use recognized citation styles like MLA or APA, depending on school policy.
- Credit all sources, including books, websites, images, videos, and interviews.
- Paraphrase information in their own words while still acknowledging the source.
Example (MLA):
Smith, John. Globalization and Culture. Oxford University Press, 2021.
These small details show respect for intellectual property and help examiners understand your research process.
Academic Honesty in the Personal Project
The Personal Project is a key area where academic honesty is assessed. Students must:
- Document all sources in their report.
- Clearly distinguish between original ideas and external information.
- Avoid copying design templates, text, or images without credit.
- Submit only authentic, self-created work.
Supervisors support students by reviewing progress and ensuring that all research and reflections meet ethical standards.
Consequences of Academic Misconduct
Consequences vary by school but may include:
- Re-submission of the task.
- Loss of credit for the assignment.
- Disqualification from the MYP Certificate (for serious cases).
- A formal record of misconduct in academic files.
More importantly, misconduct damages trust between students and teachers — something far harder to repair than a grade.
Tips for Students to Maintain Academic Integrity
- Plan ahead: Avoid last-minute work that leads to shortcuts.
- Take notes carefully: Write sources alongside information to prevent confusion later.
- Use plagiarism checkers: Verify that your work is original.
- Ask for help: If you’re unsure about citation rules, ask a teacher before submitting.
- Reflect on learning: Understand that your effort and process matter more than perfection.
Conclusion
The IB MYP Academic Honesty Policy teaches students that integrity is the foundation of true learning. Upholding honesty in every essay, project, and reflection builds trust and prepares students for responsible participation in academic and professional life.
By understanding the rules, citing sources carefully, and valuing their own ideas, MYP students become principled learners — individuals who embody the IB mission to make ethical and thoughtful contributions to the world.
