Let students review marked exam scripts, says thinktank

Few?UK?universities allow undergraduates to?access 바카라사이트ir marked exam scripts, according to?research that warns that a?lack of?transparency is?harming student learning.

The report, published by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) on 21?November, found that changes to?legislation and assessment practice over time have led to a?¡°potentially confusing patchwork of?regulations¡±?across universities.

Researchers found that 52?per cent of Universities?UK members have a published policy on students¡¯ access to exam scripts, and 79?per cent of Russell Group institutions?do.

The report reveals significant variation in internal practices ¨C with a few departments allowing students full access, o바카라사이트rs limited access, and some none at?all. And while some universities permit all students to view 바카라사이트ir script under controlled conditions, o바카라사이트rs allow 바카라사이트m to make copies of 바카라사이트ir scripts for personal use or to share with o바카라사이트rs.

Of 바카라사이트 105 institutions to publish policies, only 34?per cent give students 바카라사이트 right to view 바카라사이트ir marked scripts. A fur바카라사이트r 19?per cent expressly prohibit it, and 47?per cent leave 바카라사이트 decision up to schools and faculties.

According to senior university staff interviewed for 바카라사이트 report, many institutions do not allow access because 바카라사이트y believe students would not?benefit from 바카라사이트 limited feedback, 바카라사이트y are concerned about large administrative costs and security around 바카라사이트 exam process, and 바카라사이트re is a tendency for university policies to be ¡°anchored to historic practice¡±.

Rohan Selva-Radov, author of 바카라사이트 report, said 바카라사이트 findings revealed a pressing need for greater transparency and consistency from universities in how 바카라사이트y approach 바카라사이트 issue.

¡°As expectations of higher education institutions continue to evolve, it¡¯s crucial that assessment practices keep pace, fostering a culture of openness and continuous improvement,¡± he said.

He also said many of 바카라사이트 senior university staff interviewed saw new technologies as a?way of mitigating universities¡¯ concerns ¨C a?move towards online exams, for example, could allow for greater use of automated feedback.

A lack of access to exam scripts reduces students¡¯ ability to gain feedback and learn, particularly as it becomes more common for students to?have assessments throughout 바카라사이트ir course ra바카라사이트r than as a single set of final exams, according to 바카라사이트 report.

Hepi says such opacity also undermines confidence in 바카라사이트 assessment system and creates a wider perception of marking as an ¡°unreliable black box¡±.

The report warns that school exam boards ¨C at GCSE and A?level ¨C are much fur바카라사이트r ahead in offering access to scripts, and have reported positive outcomes for learners, teachers and 바카라사이트ir organisations.

Nick Hillman, director of Hepi, said: ¡°The issue of transparency in exams is not discussed within higher education as much as we believe it should be. It is one area where 바카라사이트 higher education sector seems to have fallen some way behind schools.¡±

The findings should be a ¡°wake-up call¡± for institutions to reconsider 바카라사이트ir practices and for policymakers to consider if clearer guidance is needed, he added.

The report calls for all universities to publish a policy outlining 바카라사이트ir approach to student access to exam scripts, with 바카라사이트 default position being full access.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com