Opinion: There is a need for swifter progress in the adoption of digital exams
In a recent Schools Week article OCR have announced they are to launch the first GCSE to be assessed solely on screen in 2025. The educational landscape is gradually evolving with digital exams emerging as a promising avenue, but progress, as ever in the education sector, is slow. A recent announcement by OCR sheds light on sluggish progress in the implementation of digital high stakes exams, particularly in the context of GCSEs and A-Levels.
OCR (The Oxford Cambridge and RSA exam board) recently revealed plans to introduce the first GCSE to be solely assessed on-screen in 2025. While this move is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, it raises concerns about the overall meagre progress in transitioning from traditional paper-based exams to digital formats.
OCR conducted a pilot program for digital mock exams in 2021 and 2022, revealing a preference for typing (over handwritten responses) among 92% of students
The benefits of digital exams are undeniable - a more authentic assessment of programming skills, alignment with real-world industry practices, and a student-friendly approach, not to mention more flexible and adaptable formats for students with specific needs. However, despite these advantages, the adoption of digital exams continue to face hurdles that hinder a swifter transition.
Ofqual, the exams regulator, has been actively exploring the feasibility of fully digital GCSE and A-level exams. The recent feasibility study was looked “at things like the national infrastructure” and the “potential for digital and modern technologies to do things like provide additional quality assurance around matters like marking”. Yet, the pace of this exploration and the subsequent implementation seems to be slower than desired. AQA, another major exam board, identified that a lack of infrastructure - computers, access arrangements and systems - as a major impediment to embracing digital exams.
As we navigate the intersection of education and technology, the need for an accelerated pace in the adoption of digital exams becomes increasingly important. The world of work beyond school requires ensuring that young people are adequately equipped for the demands of the 21st-century workforce.
OCR conducted a pilot program for digital mock exams in 2021 and 2022, revealing a preference for typing (over handwritten responses) among 92% of students. In a study focused on teachers, eight out of 10 felt their schools would be ready for digital assessments in the next two years, but there's a chicken-and-egg scenario regarding infrastructure; exams don't demand it and schools aren't being asked to provide it. Digital exams, as highlighted by OCR's CEO Jill Duffy, bring students closer to real industry experiences. The importance of aligning education with the demands of the professional world is clear, yet the transition is hindered by the slow implementation of necessary changes.
While the move towards digital exams is undoubtedly positive, the current pace of progress raises concerns about the education sector's readiness to embrace the digitisation of the world around us. The benefits of digital exams are apparent, yet the challenges in infrastructure, endless feasibility and pilot studies, and industry preparedness seem to be preventing a more rapid transition. As we look to better integrate education and technology, the need for an accelerated pace in the adoption of digital exams is increasingly important. The world of work beyond school requires ensuring that young people are adequately equipped for the demands of the 21st-century workforce. The question remains: can education keep up with the speed of progress in the digital era?