Failing honestly might be a better option than trying to cheat your way to a matric certificate.
Most officials involved in the matric exams are seasoned teachers who have seen just about every exam cheat-trick in the book, and the examiners and invigilators are specially trained to pick up cribbing or any other form of irregularity during the writing and marking of matric exams.
Candidates who are caught out can expect to be hauled before a special, standing "irregularities committee" consisting of union representatives, circuit managers, investigators and subject specialists from the department.
In 2001, 90 candidates' results were declared null and void after investigations by the committee. Apart from failing matric, they are also disqualified from any Senior Certificate examination in the country until 2003.
"Those who are not picked up in the exam room itself are usually caught out by examiners who mark the papers," said Brian Schreuder, the Western Cape education department's deputy director-general for education planning and development.
"The examiners are appointed on the strength of their experience and expertise. They can spot dishonesty quite quickly, for instance by different students making the same mistakes in the same places or giving correct answers out of context.
"Any pupil caught cribbing or communicating with another pupil during the examination itself is brought before the irregularities committee. These cases are investigated and heard even before the papers are processed and the results announced, so a pupil can be found guilty and be disqualified even before finishing the exams.
"We also act against candidates who use crude or vulgar language in their scripts."
Candidates whose scripts are found to be suspicious usually have their results suspended pending the outcome of an investigation in the new school year, as school holidays make it harder for the committee to investigate.
Illegally leaking exam papers could lead to criminal charges for theft, as happened in Gauteng in 2001. Departmental officials caught being dishonest could be fired for misconduct.