Our most recent press release
In-person exams have not taken place since 2019 for many students, with just over 600,000 Key Stage 4 students missing out on taking exams in 2021 alone[2]. Sussex-based, leading print-security firm, Zunoma, is preparing for the summer exam season by adapting to the new examination requirements that are now in place post pandemic.
The Department of Education said that all GCSE and A Level students will take in person exams this year[3], yet there are still a few modifications to ensure fairness across the board.
As the sector begins to return to normal after almost two years of disruption, exams still look slightly different for students as educational institutions attempt to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 on children’s education and the certification process.
For the 2022 exam season, the government has introduced a choice of topics and content for some GCSE exams, allowing teachers to tailor classes accordingly and give students more specific direction on what to study. Additionally, some exam boards offer advanced information on an exams content which is designed to provide specific guidance for revision. There will also be new and additional study aids that will be allowed in some exams that have not been allowed in previously.
Although there are plans for the education sector to eventually return to normal, online exams are still growing in popularity, especially seen with university students who prefer open-book or online examinations[4] compared to in-person ones. With online options making universities more accessible for many students, there has been many calls to keep a hybrid approach.
Additionally, reports from universities stress that the forced move away from traditional exams has had mental health benefits for many students, including less assessment anxiety[5].
As the education sector continues to evolve and adapt to new assessment methods, security and fairness also needs to be a key consideration in the examination process. It is vital that there is a substantial authorisation and authentication process to ensure the right student takes the right exam. Extensive cyber security measures need to be put in place to identify any potential security lapses.
Zunoma supports the education sector by delivering a complete design, print, personalisation and mailing service across a range of education related documentation.
Recognising the significant increase in online courses and the need to compliment traditional exams, paper certificates and more with secure digital counterparts, Zunoma’s secure portal solutions allow transfer of data, personalisation, fulfilment and delivery without any threat.
Roy Mullins, Business Development Manager at Zunoma, said: “The security of our customers data and documents is of utmost priority to Zunoma. A security breach in a test can have potentially disastrous consequences which can threaten reputation and the credibility of examinations.
“Zunoma’s experience of working with awarding bodies provides confidence that the security and integrity of test papers are maintained throughout the process.”
To find out more about the services Zunoma can provide to the education sector, please visit: www.zunoma.com/security-print-software/certificates-education.
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/infographic-gcse-results-2021/infographics-for-gcses-2021-accesible
[3] https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2021/11/11/exams-in-2022-everything-you-need-to-know/
[4] https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1287129
[5] https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/what-we-do/policy-and-research/publications/lessons-pandemic-making-most