I'd say the answer to your question would be an ambivalent one ! I mean - the answer can both be yes & no simultaneously ! Let me explain briefly !
If a student is studious enough to pass, he won't seek resort in cheating. Most often, it's only when he hasn't prepared/studied well for exams that he resorts to cheating. So, if someone who wants to pass but hasn't prepared is more likely/vulnerable to cheat in exam. And then the answer to your question is YES. But, if a student wants to pass & therefore has prepared/studied well enough, he won't cheat or let's say safely that he is less likely to cheat in exam.
Now, if our students (irrespective of their age & disciplines) belong to the first category, cheating will be out of control. And, if the teachers/invigilators/administrators do not take stern & prompt action against cheating in exam then students will be encouraged to unleash themselves in cheating. One thing must be mentioned here in this regard that we r talking about post-exam/in-exam measures to prevent/minimize/stop cheating by students. I'd say taking pre-exam measures will be (arguably) the best way to prevent/stop/minimize cheating.
Therefore, Shibli sir's opinion of setting creative questions can be an effective solution but personally I beg to differ with that opinion, chiefly & simply because of our context. I mean keeping the level of the majority of our students in mind, creative questions aren't the appropriate/best solution, not at least now. Just to back my opinion up, let me just give give a recent & simple evidence/fact :
The pass (not GPA 5) percentage of HSC exams under the eight education boards of Bangladesh dropped to 71.13, marking a fall of 5.37 points from that of 2012 (76.50). Total 46736 examinees got GPA 5 this year, compared to last year’s 51469, which means a drop of 4733. And this decline has been attributed largely/mainly to the introduction of "Creative Question Method" in Bangla, Chemistry, Business Entrepreneurship and Civics for the HSC examinees of 2013. The PASS (not GPA 5) rate in eight education boards in chemistry was around 77% against last year’s 85%. This year's PASS (not GPA 5) rate in eight education boards in Bangla was less than 2012 by 2% to 3% !
SM Wahiduzzaman, exam controller of Dhaka board, said "apart from the political turmoil, “creative question method” in four subjects, including chemistry, business entrepreneurship and civics, also contributed to this decline as students were not yet ready for this."
So, even after having almost 2 years to prepare for HSC exam, there was a decline. Still there remains lacking from the teacher's part as well as from the students' part. And, what those stats do not show is the fact that thousands of students who passed/got GPA 5 in 2011's SSC exam failed to pass or get GPA 5 in 2013's HSC exam because of the introduction of “creative question method” in four subjects including bangla, chemistry, business entrepreneurship and civics.
So, when we have students (meritorious/studious/average/poor/ordinary) , who couldn't cope successfully with this method in SSC/HSC even after having more than a year's time to prepare in most cases, how can we expect those same students to cope well in a course taught only for four months in a semester?? In fact, students get three months (more or less) each semester to study.
Therefore, if one is to go by those facts & consequences, creative questions method doesn't bode well for our students, not at least now.
By the way, the source of those stats is August 4, 2013 copy of the Daily Prothom Alo & The Daily Star.
