Computerised exams to be in school in "next few years"

While the government has long been touting the benefits of computers in schools, it looks like the humble PC will be giving pen and paper a run for its money at exam time.

Exam boards Edexcel and Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) have been trialling the onscreen exams at 20 schools and examination centres in England and Northern Ireland for some GCSEs and key skills tests.

The trials have proved a hit with both pupils and teachers alike and an Edexcel spokesman told silicon.com that, although the project is "very much at the pilot stage", over the "next few years" he expects to see a "steady increase" in use of the technology in the country's schools.

The move towards high-tech examining won't mean a definitive end to the traditional pen and paper system, according to Edexcel. "It's a mixed economy – it's not getting rid of paper entirely. With essay or project type of exams, it doesn't lend itself so easily...it's a matter of how to introduce [the technology] sensibly," the spokesman said.

Among the subjects being tested with the new tech are the sciences – biology, chemistry and chemistry – as well as geography, where candidates will be able moving images on their screen, for example, changing weather fronts, and click and drag answers into place.

While it's hoped that the new style of exam will encourage pupils to engage with their subjects, while teachers and examiners are keen on the tech because it cuts down on administration and the laborious task of marking on paper.

It's also gone down well with the government, which has set aside £150m to investigate how to mark papers using computers.

The main hold-up in adoption of the new system, according to the spokesman, was a question making sure the right infrastructure was in place and teachers were confident with using the new system. The level of computer literacy among students was not a problem, however, he said.

The exam boards will be using technology like that used to protect banks' data and ensure the security of credit cards to ensure the scripts aren't tampered with.

Nevertheless, tech has come under fire from other quarters for devaluing exams. A survey conducted last week by the National Union of Teachers found that members were having more trouble telling students' legitimate coursework from pieces downloaded and copied from the net.