Word Processed Exams

[RobStA]

I've been asked to investigate whether we are using a 'normal' setup (whatever that means) for our word processed exams, and would be grateful for some insights into how others do this.

 

Currently, we have the following setup:

- One 'Examination' account with which everyone logs on

- Group Policy blocks all programs except for wordpad.exe

- We use Wordpad as it is a basic word processor without spellcheck (which we've found very difficult to disable in Word)

- Pupils save their work to a memory stick

 

The biggest drawback with this setup is that pupils have to remember to save their work regularly to the memory stick, and if a computer suffers a problem, work can be easily lost, which obviously isn't ideal in an exam scenario.

 

I'd be grateful to know how others cope with exams, particularly whether there are any 'better' options than Wordpad, and whether there are better options than using memory sticks for saving work. The only way I can see it would be possible to save work to a network location would be for every pupil to have a separate logon, which would put the administration overhead through the roof.

 

Any thoughts gratefully received!

[6Foot2]

We approach this similarly, but there are differences.

 

We have multiple exam users that the students do not know the passwords for. Invigilators log the students on before the exam.

 

Students save work to the network during the exam and they are reminded that they should save frequently. They use Wordpad (except where an exemption has been sanctioned by the exam board when the students are allowed to use Word)

 

Some staff have read only access to student home folders. Our Examinations Officer finds the completed student work once the exam is over and prints it as it stands [without any amendments or corrections allowed] Students sign the work to say that it is their own and that it was completed during their exam.

 

I then move the work out of the exam user's home folder and archive it in case there is an appeal that has to be answered/addressed.

[JoeFulford]

I work very much the same as DaveP. I have non-spellcheck accounts set up in one OU and spell check exam accounts in another OU. Obviously the non-spellcheck have GPO's that limit everything but Wordpad and Spellcheck are allowed access to Word and/or Wordpad.

 

I usually go round and log all of the exam accounts in before the exam as our invigilators are completely incapable of doing so. I then open a wordpad document and save the document in the following way "%Subject% - %StudentName% - %Date%". The students then are told to save regularly to which it saves to the home folders on the network. If the students don't save regularly and they lose their work because of a failure then it's tough luck. After the exam I pull all of the work out of the home folders and save it to an archive. I have folders for each subject, and each exam on whichever date so it is easy to find. I then batch print all of the work and we get the students to sign each piece of their work.

[claireadams]

@RobStA we do exactly the same as you.