14 NCEA exams going digital
Digital exams will be rolled out for 14 NCEA subjects when secondary students sit their 2019 end-of-year tests.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) said yesterday it could offer 35 online exams between levels 1 to 3 by next November to move as many subjects online ‘‘as appropriate’’ and meet its 2020 digital goal which it marked as ‘‘the way of the future’’.
The organisation’s ability to reach that goal was questioned in November after a glitch interrupted a pilot level 1 digital English exam that about 3500 students were expected to sit.
An online exam means students sit the NCEA exam on a laptop or tablet computer and answer questions that mirror those given to students who sit a paper exam under traditional test conditions.
From next year, students can sit online exams for agricultural and horticultural science; classical studies; health; Latin; te reo Ma¯ ori; art history; education for sustainability; history; media studies; te reo Rangatira; business studies; English; home economics; and social studies.
NZQA digital assessment transformation deputy chief executive Andrea Gray said language-based subjects were easier to move online.
The digital roll-out could one day mean students are able to sit a ‘‘remotely supervised’’ exam or complete one standard at a time to split a three-hour exam into three one-hour sessions.
There was also an opportunity to ask questions differently – such as using videos and interactive graphics to describe content.
Gray said markers found the digital examinations easier and students preferred the ability to type, particularly for long-form answers. Students were able to change their mind, even within exam time, to sit a paper test over the digital. However, students found subjects such as science and maths simpler to complete on paper.
Since 2014, about 30,000 students have sat a digital exam with varying problems such as connectivity and technological issues. Gray said NZQA would continue to monitor issues as it worked to meet its 2020 digital goal.
‘‘As schools gain confidence in completing text-based exams and technology evolves, we will look at those subjects where special characters are required, such as mathematics, science and music,’’ Gray said.