Your guide to digital exams

On this page:

• Why we’re starting to move to digital exams
• How digital exams will work
• Research, reports and further reading
• Next steps

Why we’re starting to move to digital exams

Students want exams to go digital. Let’s make it click.

Students use technology every day. They’re more familiar with digital formats than a pen and paper.

Digital exams have amazing potential. They can:

• be more inclusive and accessible
• help students develop digital skills that will prepare them for the future
• allow for new ways to design questions
• transform how we see and report on performance
• help us build a more sustainable exam system.

Using technology to take exams is the future and it's already happening all over the world. That's why we’re taking small, considered steps forward with digital exams, with more information coming later this year.

How digital exams will work

Our digital exams will be traditional exam papers just on a screen. All the familiar features of an exam will be there.

Students will be able to:

• bookmark pages
• return to questions with ease
• enter special characters or accented letters via specially developed toolbars.

We’ve spent two years conducting research, pilots and trials in schools to make sure that they’re safe, secure and fair.

Students will access the exam questions and nothing else.

They won’t be able to use:

• the internet
• spell check
• auto correct.

Other than the introduction of a screen, not much else is changing. Teachers, examiners and invigilators will play the same important roles, marking remains the same and security is still key.

Research, reports and further reading on digital exams

We've done a lot of research on the topic of digital exams. To find out more, you can read the reports that we’ve published.

Next steps

Taking small steps together, we’ll be on hand with detailed guidance, technical support and advice as you come with us on this exciting journey.