11/05/2007

Exam papers tagged to deter cheats

Examination board, Edexcel, has introduced new security measures to crack down on cheating.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and microtexting are just two of the new measures being introduced this summer to further increase the security of the examinations progress.

Jerry Jarvis, Edexcel's Managing Director, said: "Incidents involving stolen papers are extremely rare, but the potential impact is massive. The logistics of re-issuing an alternative paper to schools and colleges around the country and re-training markers on the new paper are complicated, costly and could ultimately be detrimental to candidates."

After exam papers have been delivered to the test centres, Edexcel staff will be able to scan the tag to check the contents, and to make sure there are no papers missing.

Of the 620,000 bags of examination papers despatched by Edexcel during the summer 2006 series, there were around 70 reports of breaches.

Suspected breaches of security include packages being opened inadvertently to their designated date.

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) and the Awarding Bodies make every effort to ensure that staff in schools and colleges are fully informed of and supported through the important security procedures that surround the assessment process, to ensure that the system is fair for all candidates.

(CD/SP)

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