Think about whether anything could have happened while you were writing this assessment that could have led to you matching with another student. If you know whose work you matched with, consider whether you did any studying together or were in the same groups for a project. Did one of you miss classes and borrow notes from the other? Did you plan the essay together or give each other any tips? Did you rely heavily on lecture slides or notes?
Did you share your work with someone who was struggling, or did you ask someone else if you could see their work?
Consider where you were working and whether someone would have had an opportunity to access your essay. Did you leave your laptop or a library computer unlocked for a few minutes while you went to the toilet or to get a coffee? Do any of your housemates study the same module?
Sometimes students match because they both copied too much from the same source and didn't reference properly. If this has caused the match, it would be a case of plagiarism rather than collusion. You can visit our plagiarism section for more information.