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Is ACCA right to abandon remote exams?
A major exam owner withdraws from remote invigilation/ proctoring. But what signal does this give to the global assessment community? Read about the actions each stakeholder must now take, and how the remote service could be re-introduced.
4 days ago4 min read


2025 H2 Report Card for Digital Exams
The digital exam news stories from H2 2025.
Dec 9, 20254 min read


The Curriculum and Assessment Review – A sparkling mandate for digital exams or a complete washout?
Brits expect fireworks on 5th November. But few from the digital exam and assessment sector expected pyrotechnics and revelations from the UK government’s Curriculum and Assessment Review, published today . Education journalist Warwick Mansell claims the review team is ‘ experienced and serious ’. I’m curious on their approach to the UK’s decades-long track record of digital exams and assessment. The sector must reflect: what problems are we solving? Today’s interview with
Nov 5, 20253 min read


How did the UK Citizenship Test pioneer 20 years of online digital exams?
20 years ago on November 1 2005, the UK Citizenship Test was launched . An online one-hour high-stakes exam, delivered across 90 independent test centres. Life in the UK (LitUK) is one of many global tests that facilitates the citizenship and naturalisation processes. You read that correctly – the UK government with the digital exam sector have been delivering an online exam for 20 years. Not on paper. Or as a locally downloaded file to a server - a method perfected in the mi
Nov 3, 20253 min read


How will the sale of City and Guilds impact the education sector?
The biggest UK assessment sector news story in 20 years. City & Guilds, synonymous with ‘the trades’ and vocational education, has been sold . Just like Xerox, Hoover, and Sellotape – Guilds is a rare genericised brand that the general public instantly recognise. Its acquirer is PeopleCert . A privately owned company led by its founder and owner Byron Nicolaides. The sale proceeds will go to founding a separate charitable wing. The exact playbook used by Pearson on ac
Oct 20, 20254 min read


Do exam owners declare their energy usage?
I listened to Rita Bateson this week at RM’s Assessment Summit in London, and was struck that for the assessment sector, energy usage...
Oct 10, 20253 min read


What are assessment professionals actually telling us?
The exam sector is haunted by fears of fulfilling special accommodations, grappling with AI and evolving social norms. Read how the TPAC conference revealed the sector's concerns, but gave hope for the future.
Sep 26, 20253 min read


What does Digital Sovereignty mean for digital exams and e-assessment?
Where’s our candidate data going? Who can access it? Does someone have a kill switch? USA’s ‘ America First ’ policy is causing panic and...
Aug 10, 20253 min read


The e-Assessment Association Conference: an island of progress, innovation, and perseverance. But what next?
It took 29 nations, over 300 delegates, and a multitude of interests to deliver the latest successful e-Assessment Association (eAA)...
Jun 16, 20253 min read


Do digital exams and e-assessment provide transparency?
Is our love for a less-than-transparent world blighting trust in exams and assessment?
Read how digital exams and e-assessment are being held back by opacity, and our willingness to look the other way.
Jun 12, 20253 min read


Can Multi-Modal assessment sweep away the AI froth?
Using a basket of assessment instruments as part of a Multi-Modal Assessment can deal with both the benefits and hazards of artificial intelligence.
Jun 9, 20253 min read


Why does the school exam system not work for us any more? Has it Jumped The Shark?
Learners, families, and stakeholders are rejecting England’s school assessment system. A recent letter to a UK newspaper noted the...
Jun 6, 20255 min read


Dispelling 15 Myths of Digital School Exams
Here are 15 myths of digital school exams dispelled.
Jun 5, 20257 min read


Is Ofqual worth £2M?
Is Ofqual worth 2M? Could an expanded remit and higher quality threshold make it better value?
Jun 4, 20253 min read


2025 H1 Report Card for Digital Exams
The key digital exam stories from the first half of 2025.
Jun 2, 20254 min read


Has the exam awarding sector just had its Ratner moment?
What happens when a sector leader 'Does a Ratner' and degrades his own company's qualifications?
May 22, 20252 min read


25 years of the Construction Health and Safety (Digital) Test
This is the story of one big volume UK digital test that re-shaped test design and delivery for maximum impact.
Apr 3, 20253 min read


Who moved my assessment cheese? How should change be handled for England's assessment system?
How gatekeepers need to tune in to the reality of how the assessment system doesn't work for learners.
Mar 26, 20253 min read


The future of school digital exams and assessment?
I visited the 2025 Next Generation Assessment Conference , only 10 months since the 2024 edition, I saw progress in digital school exams...
Feb 28, 20253 min read


Why is removing Maths and English from England’s apprenticeships so problematic?
Removal of English and Maths from England's apprenticeships is problematic, especially for post-apprenticeship job seekers.
Feb 25, 20253 min read


2024 Exam Sector Review
A curious year for the assessment sector. $25M fines for exam cheating. UK spluttering on plans for digitising school exams. A regulator...
Dec 6, 20246 min read


How much is the UK exam sector worth? And what’s your Total Addressable Market?
What is the UK exam sector worth?
Nov 23, 20243 min read


When you forget about trialling school digital exams and assessment 20 years ago.
I read yesterday’s review report on curriculum and assessment, chaired by former Secretary of State for Education Charles Clarke,...
Sep 5, 20243 min read


Taboos and Fairy Stories - How will schools adopt digital exams?
The how and why of school digital exam delivery.
Jun 27, 20243 min read
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