Exam laptops

[Rob_D]

For the last few years now our exam setup has been locked down domain accounts and ExamWritePad. Students can't get online, or do anything other than open EWP or notepad, save to the account's my documents (which is cleared out between exams), and print to the school follow me queue where the invigilators have print release.

The whole thing made it super easy to grab a laptop (or even a desktop) and go.

 

Now, I'm being shown documentation saying that laptops must not be connected to a LAN, which puts an end to our gpo managed domain accounts that can be used anywhere and being able to easily just hit print at the end of the exam.

It's going to be a massive pain if we have to go back to having especially configured, off domain laptops for the exams and I guess the invigilators would have to use a USB stick to transfer the files to another PC which was domain connected to print from.

 

How are other people dealing with this? (There must be a better way, right?)

[Jawloms]

I'm being shown documentation saying that laptops must not be connected to a LAN

 

I'd be interested in seeing this too if you can share it?

[simpsonj]

Only thing I can see in the latest JCQ Guidelines is "h) must not be connected to an intranet or any other means of communication;" which I wouldn't equate to a domain or LAN.

[mavhc]

intranet is specifically an internal website, so would have to be using http(s) and html

[3s-gtech]

Ours are done the same way - they use local logons and are managed with GPOs. They'll work without a LAN connection, using cached credentials. No intranet access on them. It sounds like your setup is fine.

[Rob_D]

I'd be interested in seeing this too if you can share it?

It's the JCQ document that simpsonj is referencing and the Access Arraignments Checklist Template the Exams Office have sent over says: "Are arrangements in place to disable network and prohibit applications access?" (footer says the document shouldn't be shared beyond our center)

[simpsonj]

The JCQ Exam Checklist has 'Word processors to be used in the exam have had connectivity to the internet disabled.'

 

I can't find anything to suggest a requirement to disable network access.

[mikeprice]

The JCQ Exam Checklist has 'Word processors to be used in the exam have had connectivity to the internet disabled.'

 

I can't find anything to suggest a requirement to disable network access.

 

Instructions for conducting Exams - page 30

[pete]

https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/ICE_20-21_FINAL.pdf

 

Page 30, 14.25 H does have "h) must not be connected to an intranet or any other means of communication"

 

We've (Exams Officer and I) always interpreted that as a restriction on communication (data in/out), not printing or the ability to use a redirected save location to prevent hardware failure leading to a loss of work.

 

edit: and our Exams Officer re-explained that during our recent audit (via Zoom tour of the secure cupboard) and the inspector was happy with the arrangements.

Edited October 23, 2020 by pete

[mavhc]

That's from https://www.theexamsoffice.org https://www.theexamsoffice.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/19-20-Access-arrangements-word-processor-checklist-template.docx It's not a legal thing.

 

Just say that you've done it, you've removed access to shared drives and the internet.