Head of AQA: exams could be online within 3 years

[noblegiraffe]

Colin Hughes, head of AQA has been interviewed:

Mr Hughes said he would support the launch of “national pilots” for “on-screen assessment”, and that it would take just three years to go from the today’s “totally paper-based” system to having some modules on computers…

Computer-based exams would have a range of benefits, he said, such as making it possible to set “adaptive” tests that tailor themselves to each student – getting harder or easier depending on how the student answers questions, to more accurately pinpoint their ability.

Because pupils would all sit slightly different tests, adaptive tests could eventually revolutionise the school calendar, removing the need for a summer exam season.

Instead, students could take the tests on a “when-ready basis”, which would be “arguably fairer”, said Mr Hughes.”

He also says that issues with lack of computers was something that could easily be sorted. I’m not sure how, tbh.

I read stuff like this and think ‘fgs another overhaul of the exams system is not what we need right now.

I also really don’t want kids sitting maths exams on a computer.

inews.co.uk/news/education/gcses-a-levels-2022-computer-based-exams-online-tests-aqa-1308135

Kids with SEN have always been able to sit their exams on a computer, Placido?

Lots of maths problems require pen and paper working out. You can type an answer on a computer or tick a box, but you can't show how you got to the answer. Exams on computers would have to be supplemented by written work. Unless somehow a whiteboard is involved but I don't know how that would work.
I can see an English or History exam working online though, with typed answers. But not maths or the sciences.

@noblegiraffe

This 'age not stage' bin the summer exams suggestion also begs the question 'what would the student who did the exam early then do?'

Presumably it wouldn't be very early though - there's so much content to cover now that realistically the exams would have take place over just a few weeks at the end of the year.

But are that many students really going to want to take it early vs having the extra time to prepare?

Some do take GCSEs early though now don't they?

No, Kikko, it's heavily discouraged. For most GCSEs there's only the summer sitting, and for Maths and English where there's also a November sitting, students aren't allowed to enter if they haven't previously sat the exam, it's resits only.

@Placido

Hurrah finally a move to the modern world. Having a dysgraphic, dyspraxic, dyslexic daughter I salute any system that doesn’t see her discriminated against.

Reading on a screen does disadvantage many dyslexic students. Many need a hard copy to highlight. Lots of online tests involve scrolling up and down which disadvantages anyone with short term and working memory issues. However, being able to type answers for essay subjects would be an advantage to everyone.

However, being able to type answers for essay subjects would be an advantage to everyone.

Only if they’ve been taught proper typing rather than just messaging with their thumbs. With an already overcrowded curriculum.

Nowhere near sufficient technology or tech support in schools to do this. Which IT technician is going to work in a school for hugely less than they can earn in business? Schools have no money left after the last two years, and had little before. Look what happened in lockdown - kids with no access to technology, broken promises from government about laptops, desperate appeals to charities and businesses for obsolete machines to be handed out to kids. This is all about the exam boards sitting on their profits after the amount of cash they’ve saved during the pandemic.

I don’t think typing needs to be taught. Typing is something that you get better at as you do. The more someone types, the faster their typing becomes.

The way to get really fast at typing is to be taught the correct positioning of the fingers and how to use them all.

@Strawbales

I don’t think typing needs to be taught. Typing is something that you get better at as you do. The more someone types, the faster their typing becomes.

Have you ever watched a teenager type on a keyboard? They take ages. Practice still requires an individual computer for each student. Those schools that have forced parents to buy iPads? What will they do if exams have to be typed? Add a compatible keyboard to the required equipment bill?

Technology isn’t there and without major government investment schools can’t afford it. We’re already nearly out of glue sticks.

I’ve never been taught typing, and I don’t know anyone who has. I also know I can type a lot faster than I write.

I’m an English teacher (and examiner!) and despite the obvious benefit of not having to decipher messy handwriting I wouldn’t be a fan either.

Very few of my pupils write as well on a computer (in the time constrained context of an exam) as they do by hand.

Not going to happen without a huuuuuge investment in IT.

We barely have money for board markers and white paper, let alone enough PCs for every exam student at once.

The recent university assessment system crashed here when they were supposed to start. It then started 3 hours late. Going to have to really boost the system to get more online.

Our school would need approximately 400 computers just for exams.

DD is doing university level maths exams online. They write their answers on paper and have to photograph and upload each sheet within a limited time frame. I could just about see that also working at A level, but not further down the school where there are 100s of students to supervise/administer.

I've worked in computer based testing for years and it's already used worldwide for lots of high stakes exams. Students will still be able to use paper or a4 whiteboards for working out, they won't be expected to do the working out onscreen if that not appropriate for the type of question.

The American College Tests (ACT) are delivered online as an example of how this is being used currently.

Computer based tests have lots of advantages for accessibility too as you can change background and text colours/sizes, use magnifying tools and screen readers, configuration can be built into the test to amend the format/content to accommodate different needs like extra time, alternative wording and such.

@DuggeeHugPlease

Why would you not want to see online exams? They already use them at university level and have software that locks the browser so you are unable to navigate away from the test screen.

They don't lock the iPhone on your desk though....

Why would you be able to take an iPhone to the exam

Very few of my pupils write as well on a computer (in the time constrained context of an exam) as they do by hand

Really?

@titchy you're thinking about remote proctored tests where people are in their own home doing computer based tests. I'd think that something as high stakes as GCSEs would be invigilated in person in test centres and there is a huge network of these across the U.K. that exists and could be used for session based testing without schools having to have hundreds of computers on site

@Kikkomam

Very few of my pupils write as well on a computer (in the time constrained context of an exam) as they do by hand

Really?

Yes, really.

They don't much typing at all, do they?

Pointing and scrolling on phones and tablets doesn't make typists of them by secondary school!

Older adults are generally better typists and users of IT than teenagers, by far.

Students will still be able to use paper or a4 whiteboards for working out, they won't be expected to do the working out onscreen if that not appropriate for the type of question.

But the problem with maths is that if they don't get the final answer right then they can gain marks for having correct working. The examiner absolutely needs to be able to see their working out.

They write their answers on paper and have to photograph and upload each sheet within a limited time frame.

This is effectively what happens at the moment, except test papers are collected and scanned centrally rather than photographed by individuals. Markers do not mark paper copies, they mark on screen.

My professional body moved to online assessments during Covid and doesn't intend to go back to paper.
I'm long since qualified but complaints I have heard include that there is no facility to make rough notes to plan out your answer (you have access to Word notepad but typing a plan isn't the same) and you can't draw out models so you have to explain them in words. These are professionals who already type every day at work.

Using computers for multiple choice exams is one thing at GCSEs but for long essay subjects it is putting the cart before the horse when lessons are still paper based and the majority of pupils have very limited typing skills.

DS takes a laptop to some lessons due to his SN but doesn't like being the odd one out and work has reverted to being worksheets handed out in class or PDFs uploaded to Teams that you have to print out yourself but can't fill in on a computer as they are just scans of Word docs not properly converted.

However ridiculous the idea that you might catch covid from a maths worksheet was last year was, it did result in a Word docs that could be completed and handed in on Teams without any printing necessary.

These students will have gone through school using my maths so having an online element for some of the assessment will not be as different. I agree though it will take a substantial shift in technology to do all maths/ science papers online, evidence of method will still be needed. For other subjects it should be fine to go online. My dc use laptops in exams and much of the assessment can be done on computer.

For many young people being able to type will have much more long term value than handwriting. The last time I needed to write for my job was about eight years ago before the expenses claim forms went online.

I can quite see it wouldn’t work for every subject but I don’t think it needs to be written off as an idea (pardon the pun) for every subject.