Word Processor requirements for Exams

[mjgreen]

Hi all,

(Windows 7, Office 2007 soon to be Office 2010)

For a while now we have had an 'Examination' user which has been used for Exams when a pupil requires a Word Processor for an exam.

This user ONLY has access to Wordpad and cannot access any other programs or the internet etc.

This arrangement has been fine for a couple of years, but one of our learning support officers has now told us that the specifications from the exam board state that:

* The candidate MUST be able to ensure that thier Name, centre number, candidate number and paper details appear on each page page as a header/footer.
* The candidate MUST NOT have access to a spell check tool

Our previous arrangment with Wordpad was fine as it did not have a spell checker, but as far as I can tell you cannot enter a header/footer in Wordpad.

How do other schools achieve this? Do you use Word and disable Spell Check via GPO?

Many thanks

[Steve21]

Hi all,

(Windows 7, Office 2007 soon to be Office 2010)

For a while now we have had an 'Examination' user which has been used for Exams when a pupil requires a Word Processor for an exam.

This user ONLY has access to Wordpad and cannot access any other programs or the internet etc.

This arrangement has been fine for a couple of years, but one of our learning support officers has now told us that the specifications from the exam board state that:

* The candidate MUST be able to ensure that thier Name, centre number, candidate number and paper details appear on each page page as a header/footer.
* The candidate MUST NOT have access to a spell check tool

Our previous arrangment with Wordpad was fine as it did not have a spell checker, but as far as I can tell you cannot enter a header/footer in Wordpad.

How do other schools achieve this? Do you use Word and disable Spell Check via GPO?

Many thanks

Curious as to which exam board? Never seen that before.

But also, isn't that just on the printed version? Aka you could transfer the file to the exam officers and they print it in word? After exams over?

Steve

[mjgreen]

The board is JCQ.

I have a hard copy of the document but unfortunatly cannot find the exact PDF on the JCQ website to post a link.

It might be possible for the exams officer to transfer the written text after the exams, you are right. It just concerns me that the way that the document is written defintely suggests that this process should be done by the candidate and that they should use the word processor "where it is thier normal way of working within the centre"

[Steve21]

The board is JCQ.

I have a hard copy of the document but unfortunatly cannot find the exact PDF on the JCQ website to post a link.

It might be possible for the exams officer to transfer the written text after the exams, you are right. It just concerns me that the way that the document is written defintely suggests that this process should be done by the candidate and that they should use the word processor "where it is thier normal way of working within the centre"

Advice: Where a candidate has been granted the use of a word processor, at the end of the examination the candidate should be present when the script is printed off so as to verify that the work printed is his or her own. The candidate must include their name, candidate number and centre number on each page as a header/footer. Each page should be appropriately numbered.

Only my two cents, but doesn't say anywhere it needs to be added during the exam. Can be added after as such.

Steve

[mjgreen]

Its true Steve, maybe I will discuss that with the appropriate people.

Out of interest, did you find a link to that? Wouldnt mind a copy

thanks

[Steve21]

Its true Steve, maybe I will discuss that with the appropriate people.

Out of interest, did you find a link to that? Wouldnt mind a copy

thanks

http://www.cityandguilds.com/documents/ICE_11-12.pdf

Just off one of the main exam boards, but there's copy on edexcel etc etc on all of them really Seems JCQ rules over all the boards as such

Steve

[mjgreen]

thank you

So is the way you actually do it in your school? Or are you speaking hypothetically?

[Steve21]

thank you

So is the way you actually do it in your school? Or are you speaking hypothetically?

Honestly not sure on that part. I only do the IT part, setting it up etc. We use full Wordpad though, the printing/registration parts etc done by our exam officer.

Steve

[DeltaBravo]

I've had this at my school too, I've got a script which will disable and enable spell checker, I’ll try to dig it out for you.

[mjgreen]

That would be fantastic, thank you.

The more research I do here seems to suggest that currently our candidates print the document immediatly at the end of the lesson. If I try and get them to change this process I know that it wont be accepted easily!

[DeltaBravo]

You just have to make the following into a batch file

To disable spell checker the script is:

c:

cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12"
move msproof6.dll msproof6.dll.bak

cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\OFFICE12\Office Setup Controller"
move setup.exe setup.exe.bak

pause

To enable spell checker the script is:

c:

cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12"
move msproof6.dll.bak msproof6.dll

cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\OFFICE12\Office Setup Controller"
move setup.exe.bak setup.exe

pause

Seems to do the job here without any issues.

[RichCowell]

* The candidate MUST be able to ensure that thier Name, centre number, candidate number and paper details appear on each page page as a header/footer.

Depends how you interpret that... so long as pupils know to enter it at the top or bottom of each page before printing it should be fine - exam boards can't tell whether it's actually entered in the software as a Header/Footer...

I read it as though it must appear on each page as a header/footer, so doesn't state that it has to be set that way in the software...

[mjgreen]

Depends how you interpret that... so long as pupils know to enter it at the top or bottom of each page before printing it should be fine - exam boards can't tell whether it's actually entered in the software as a Header/Footer...

I read it as though it must appear on each page as a header/footer, so doesn't state that it has to be set that way in the software...

But does Wordpad seperate pages? Isnt it just one long document as far as the user can tell?

[Achandler]

We use Ubuntu laptops and openoffice, then just delete the spellcheck files.

[mjgreen]

You just have to make the following into a batch file

To disable spell checker the script is:


To enable spell checker the script is:


Seems to do the job here without any issues.

Thank you, I will look at that as an option

Do you know if it works with Office 2010 as well (if I update the file locations obviosuly)