Using ChromEx for exams. Do you?

[David44]

I assume some schools are using this for real exams. We have used it with Chromebooks for recent mock exams but our Exams office are concerned that it doesn't quite meet the requirements set out by the JCQ ICE document (https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ICE_21-22_FINAL.pdf) and I tend to agree.

 

I am looking at section 14.25 (page 30) of the linked document. I don't think ChromEx meets the following criteria.

 

A word processor...

e) must either be connected to a printer so that a script can be printed off, or havethe facility to print from a portable storage medium. This must be done after theexamination is over.

 

Strictly speaking, ChromEx does not meet this requirement because candidates will not be using an attached printer nor a portable storage medium. Their exam is printed by a member of staff, after the exam is over and the candidates then signs it before leaving the venue.

 

A word processor...

h) must not be connected to an intranet or any other means of communication;

 

The Chromebook and ChromEx by design will be connected to the internet. ChromEx therefore doesn't seen to comply with the strict letter of this rule.

 

I think ChromEx certainly complies with the sprit of these rules, I think the problem is badly written rules that probably haven't been updated in years but I wonder if anyone has had anything in writing that says ChromEx is okay to use (or even the opposite, I suppose) from JCQ or any of the exam boards?

[paulkerton]

I assume some schools are using this for real exams. We have used it with Chromebooks for recent mock exams but our Exams office are concerned that it doesn't quite meet the requirements set out by the JCQ ICE document (https://www.jcq.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ICE_21-22_FINAL.pdf) and I tend to agree.

 

Yeah, we've had this with our exams officers too, and I absolutely disagree. I've reached out to JCQ who say it is for exams centres to decide and they will not make recommendations.

Strictly speaking, ChromEx does not meet this requirement because candidates will not be using an attached printer nor a portable storage medium. Their exam is printed by a member of staff, after the exam is over and the candidates then signs it before leaving the venue.

 

Their exam is digitally transformed into a PDF and stored in Google Drive, which is an digital equivalent of printing. You can simply get the student to go to a print station and be supervised by the member of staff taking part in the printing process. Or you can get an invigilator to do it, which shouldn't be an issue. I know ChromEx are working on a function so that it only produces a PDF at the end (instead of a Drive document and a PDF) to mitigate issues and concerns.

The Chromebook and ChromEx by design will be connected to the internet. ChromEx therefore doesn't seen to comply with the strict letter of this rule

.

If you need them to print directly from the device, they will have to be connected to a network in some way unless you're expecting them to plug a USB cable in to print each time. ChromEx is completely sandboxed and you cannot get out of the sandbox as a student as long as you configure the devices correctly. Of course they're connected to the internet, but they're not connected openly - they're limited to the task in hand and nothing else.

I think ChromEx certainly complies with the sprit of these rules, I think the problem is badly written rules that probably haven't been updated in years but I wonder if anyone has had anything in writing that says ChromEx is okay to use (or even the opposite, I suppose) from JCQ or any of the exam boards?

 

JCQ won't say that it is okay or not okay to use. I'm not going to share the email exactly as my correspondence with JCQ wasn't meant for anyone outside of our purpose, but they are happy for invigilators to collect typed pages and passing them to candidates so they can check it is all present and it's their own work as collecting pages and handing them to the candidate involved a lot less than reading back answers on request or scribes dictating them down on their behalf.

[paulkerton]

ChromEx is rebranding to Telson Assessment, to reflect the fact it isn't just for Chromebooks anymore, by the way.