2 JUL 2023

Are fully digital exams are on the horizon?

Ofqual, the exams regulator in the UK, is collaborating with the Department for Education to explore the feasibility of transitioning GCSEs and A-levels to fully digital exams.

Dr Jo Saxton, Ofqual's chief regulator, emphasised the importance of setting "guardrails" to ensure students can benefit from technological advancements in a fair manner. The feasibility study aims to determine the requirements for high-stakes assessments to be conducted digitally and delivered on-screen. Ofqual has committed to supporting exam boards in adopting innovative practices and technology.

While some exam boards have already conducted pilot projects for on-screen assessments, a survey by AQA revealed that teachers consider a lack of infrastructure as a significant barrier to digital exams. As part of the feasibility study, Ofqual is examining national infrastructure capabilities and the potential of digital technologies to enhance quality assurance, such as marking processes.

It is worth noting that other countries that swiftly transitioned to entirely online national assessments faced significant challenges. Additionally, Ofqual is exploring the use of adaptive testing, which customises the test based on students' abilities, as a potential replacement for tiering in certain GCSE subjects. However, Dr Jo Saxton stated that adaptive testing development requires substantial resources, including millions of questions to prevent predictability and cheating. Sir Ian Bauckham, the Chair of Ofqual, highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to address resource constraints, suggesting an exciting future possibility.

While the move towards fully digital exams offers numerous opportunities, it is essential to navigate the challenges carefully. Ofqual's feasibility study aims to strike the right balance, ensuring that technological advancements in assessments benefit students while maintaining fairness and integrity.