Big exam question ... should computers oust pens?

Isabel Nisbet, outgoing chief executive of Ofqual, said retaining traditional writing materials would render GCSEs and A-levels “invalid” as “techno savvy” pupils were not used to using them.

She has now called for the traditional method of testing to be brought to an end, insisting the reliance on hand-written papers “cannot go on”.

Writing in The Times Educational Supplement yesterday, she voiced fears that students could take only “bits” of a “very small” number of their A-levels and GCSEs on computers.

“They use IT as their natural medium for identifying and exploring new issues and deepening their knowledge,” she said. “Yet we are even now accrediting new GCSEs, due to run for several years, which are still taken largely on paper.

“This cannot go on. Our school exams are running the risk of becoming invalid as their medium of pen and ink increasingly differs from the way in which youngsters learn.”

If school exams fail to go online soon, exam preparation will become a “separate thing to learning”, she warned.

Currently few sections of existing exams can be taken on computers but hand-written scripts are often scanned and marked on-line.

Andrew Hall, chief executive of exam board AQA, welcomed the remarks.

“It’s really important that students are assessed in the same way that they learn and using the technologies that are commonplace in the world outside the classroom,” he said.

“The real prize here is to have assessment, online, on-demand, when the student is ready.

“This should also provide much speedier feedback to students and teachers, so they can identify areas of strength and weakness.

“It’s crucial that we all work together to ensure equality of opportunity as this technology is rolled out, so that it doesn’t disadvantage any student.”

AQA has been offering on-screen exams for five years.

Edexcel managing director Ziggy Liaquat said the examination system had yet to “fully realise” the potential of computer-based exams.

“As technology continues to be a part of everyday life, we expect that students and teachers will increasingly want to use technology for assessment as well as for teaching and learning,” he said.

“Technology has the potential to transform education by making its delivery more personalised, efficient and effective and by making it more transparent and secure. The examination system is yet to fully realise this potential however.”

He also stressed that the system should not disadvantage those who do not have the means to complete exams online.

“We must therefore take account of those schools and individuals with special requirements or who do not have access to the necessary computer equipment and ensure we have suitable alternatives available,” he said.

The Government has warned leading universities hoping to charge £9,000 a year that they face price competition from further education colleges for student applicants.

Universities Minister David Willetts said further education colleges should be able to attach themselves to universities and provide degree-level qualifications.

But instead of charging close to £9,000 a year, their fees could be less than £6,000, he said.

Private institutions will also be able to offer degree courses as the Government looks to make the market more competitive.

Speaking to university vice-chancellors in London, Mr Willetts said the Government wanted to adopt a “de-regulatory” approach and open the system so that colleges and private institutions could see their students access loans and grants provided that they met stringent criteria.