STEM
Use of Social Media and Examinations/Assessments
We all like to share our experiences when taking exams and sharing ideas with others online can be helpful when you’re studying or revising. However, it is important to consider...
Use of Social Media and...
We all like to share our experiences when taking exams and sharing ideas with others
online can be helpful when you’re studying or revising.
However, it is important to consider what you say and to think about what information is being shared as there are limits to what you can share and you need to be careful not to break the rules. The rules are in place to ensure that exams are fair to everyone, students don’t become worried about false rumours and any real issues can be sorted out quickly by the right people.
We’d like to ask you to act responsibly when discussing online. If you’re in doubt about what you can and can’t discuss online regarding your exams, it’s always best to check with your teacher.
If you receive what is or what looks to be assessment related information through social media, or any other means, you must tell your teacher or another member of staff. You must show them what you have received (if available). They will then report the matter to the awarding body and it will be investigated.
Where candidates breach the rules for examinations, controlled assessments, coursework or non-examination assessments, awarding bodies have an obligation to investigate and may apply penalties.
If you receive what is or what looks to be assessment related information through social media, or any other means, you must tell your teacher or another member of staff. You must show them what you have received (if available). They will then report the matter to the awarding body and it will be investigated.
Where candidates breach the rules for examinations, controlled assessments, coursework or non-examination assessments, awarding bodies have an obligation to investigate and may apply penalties.
You need to know that the following would be malpractice:
• copying or allowing work to be copied – e.g. posting written work on social
networking sites prior to an examination/assessment;
• collusion: allowing others to help produce your work or helping others with theirs;
• asking others about what questions your exam will include (even if no one
tells you);
• having or sharing details about exam questions before the exam – whether you
think these are real or fake; or
• not telling exam boards or your school/college about exam information being
shared.
• copying or allowing work to be copied – e.g. posting written work on social
networking sites prior to an examination/assessment;
• collusion: allowing others to help produce your work or helping others with theirs;
• asking others about what questions your exam will include (even if no one
tells you);
• having or sharing details about exam questions before the exam – whether you
think these are real or fake; or
• not telling exam boards or your school/college about exam information being
shared.
Penalties that awarding bodies apply include:
• a written warning;
• the loss of marks for a section, component or unit;
• disqualification from a unit, all units or qualifications; or
• a ban from taking assessments or exams for a set period of time.
• a written warning;
• the loss of marks for a section, component or unit;
• disqualification from a unit, all units or qualifications; or
• a ban from taking assessments or exams for a set period of time.
Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the JCQ rules: http://www.jcq.org.uk/exams-
