Should typing be allowed in exams?

Do you all think there should be an option for some subjects, that some students can choose to use the computer/hand write for some subjects in exams?

in my english lit, english lang, and one of my geography papers, my wrist and hand was really really sore, and I really struggled to write fast. i had to rest my wrist by reading the question/searching up some quotes from the texts.

i would have preferred to type.

Reply 1

anon53

4

I think it can currently be used in exams, but only for candidates receiving special consideration for a medical condition etc. Maybe it should for exams scheduled in the same session when a number of exams take place within a certain time frame. However, the time allowance reflects the amount espected in an answer and perhaps spelling, puntuation and grammar could become an issue in exams where marks are awarded for quality of written com,munication in subjects such as English. Thinking back to some of my exams this summer, I think it should though.

Reply 2

unfinished sympathy

15

yes and no

yes cos its more legible if you make a mistake you can erase it easily

no cos people type faster than others, people who type fast make loads of noise..
etc i'd prefer to type, but i cant see it happening unless you have a solid reason, cos they have to check your computer and stuff! my friend has dyslexia and he computer teachers had to wipe out all her files in case she could cheat

Reply 3

lizzyd

i don't think it should, and definately not in english exams because people could use spell check or check their grammar.
there are far too many ways that people could cheat if they used computers, so it's better just to keep it simple.

Reply 4

kellywood_5

17

lizzyd

i don't think it should, and definately not in english exams because people could use spell check or check their grammar.
there are far too many ways that people could cheat if they used computers, so it's better just to keep it simple.

Plus can you imagine how distracting it would be to sit in a room with up to 300 pupils (in a GCSE exam) all typing away? That would drive me crazy! Also some people have had more practice with computers than others and would therefore have an unfair advantage, whereas everyone has had the same experience with writing.

Reply 5

Excalibur

15

I can see the benefits, the biggest probably being that everything would become so much more legible to the examiner & make their lives so much easier. My dad (senior lecturer at a uni) would certainly like to see it implemented... he spends about an hour trying to decipher handwriting on papers before getting around to marking the content! (and it's medical students too, so you know what they'd be like :p:

)

But I can't really see it being practical, the biggest reason being that there is a huge variety between people regarding typing speed. Some people may not have computers at home, and those people will be disadvantaged as they cannot type as fast as others. At least with writing with hand, there isn't as huge a difference between individuals.

Also, I think it will make the exam less like an exam if you can type, because the biggest asset of computers over hand written things is that you can edit things easily. You can cut & paste, delete, move around paragraphs, split paragraphs and other things, which is incredibly limited when writing by hand; and for me, the biggest challenge (and to an extent the point) of an exam is to test how much you can write coherently spontaneously, not the product of immaculate editing.

There's the problem with spelling & grammar too... unless you use some non spelling and grammar inclusive software, this would probably constitute as cheating. Also, the invaluable right-click in order to browse synonyms on Word would be cheating too :wink:

Just my £0.02 :wink:

Reply 6

Cataclysm

2

How about a super-communicator cable that you connect through your ear and into your brain and whatever you think is instantly typed into the computer. That would be the best.

Reply 7

dhutch

17

I used a laptop, with my own mouse and keyboard, in my D&T A-leval exam (three hour essay) referecing to drawings done on the paper exam sheet.

I also have the option to use a computer in all of my Uni exams (bar multichoice elements)
- Although due to the nature of the exams (mechanical engeering) i very rairly do.
- It can be a bit of a pain, as it mean i sit all my exam in an computer suite, which is filled with a screaming of cooling fans in the nework switch (we switch all the PCs off!!)

I have severe dyslexia and problems hand writting ledgably, so its a god sent at time. I wouldnt have being about to get a grade in the DT exam without it, and im sure i would have done better at GCSE if i had have had that then.
- I also get 25% extra time in all exams since the start of A-levals (and english gcse resit)

Daniel

Reply 8

dhutch

17

darkfairy753

I can't believe we're both up at 2.30 and still on the secondary school academic forum :p:

Hehe, im still awake too!
- Typing away into the smal hours!

Reply 9

marshmallow_mayhem

I find it easier to write, and it's also more secure because sometimes computers could crash or whatever and then you lose the whole thing. I'd say you should be allowed to type only if you're blind or something.

Reply 10

Happy1

14

I dont think typing's a great idea. Its so distracting... especially if others are typing faster than you.

Its hardly fair at the moment. In order to bring that it, we'd have to teach everyone to type properly... but not everyone's hand-eye co-ordination would allow them to type fast enough to wrie a decent answer, making the exam incredibly unfair.

When I did the LNAT test at a driving test centre... i think i was distracting loads of the other people... the other couple of people doing typing-based tests kept looking round... i assume because i can type very quickly

Reply 11

dhutch

17

wesetters

2. The current system whereby you can type if you have some sort of special need isn't actually very popular. The software the candidate use is unreliable,and the saving facilities are very limited (if they exist, I'm not sure). I've known several people lose their work because of a computer crash in an exam. That just doesn't happen with pen and paper.

That no way to talk about microsofts best... :rolleyes:

Serously, the times ive used, or been able to use, a computer, its just been running winXP, and just using MS word (eather 2000 or 2003).
- They they give you a floppy disk, or USB pendrive to save it on at the end. And also advise saving it on the HDD from time to time.
- At 6th form, they then look me into anther room at the end, and had me print it off, and read though it to check it was correct and all there. Then thats what got sent off.

People who have no or limited problem writing arent going to understand whats its like, and how much of a god-sent it can be to those affected people.

I can write, and i do right. I take all my notes in lectures using pen/paper (last year, that was 5*80page and 3*120page refillpads, on both sides)
- But thats also including a lot of graphs/diagrams/scetchs/mathmatic notation, and general understanding.
- If it where to try writing a long essay using pen and paper, it would take all day, just to get it down. I could type or dictate it easly, but not write it.
- My mind has great difficulty "geting the words out" (also when talking or typing, but to a lesser extent)
- I can go to write a word, or a sentance, and just start writting the wrong letters or words. I'll have the whole sentace in my head, then just like "Then i bealve..." then start off writting a letter 'B'/
- My mind moves faster than my hand, and so i also end up missing our words all the time. And also geting words the wrong way round, As well as making the classic dyslexic mistake of geting letters jumbled, and writing "make" as "mkae"
- I notice all these misstakes (although no all spelling mistakes) but then if im doing it by hand, i have to cross our whole lines, rather then just hitting backspace and trying again, like i can on a pc.
- Im also then quite capable, when in a rush (ie exam), of writing the same wrong letter 5 or 6 times!
- Can you imagine how infurating that is, espcailly when you just know you have the whole sentace (often several) in your head, and all you have to do is WIRTE IT DOWN!!
- Thsi then further strees me out, so my hand writting goes right down hill, and starts becoming illegable, sometimes even to me. Then i have to cross that out, with further adds to the stress.
- Net result. Im stress to buggery, shaking sweating and exhasted, and my exam script is covered in as much crossing out as writting, and half illegable. Hence i fail and exam that i could otherwise have aced.

I do a masters in mechanical engineering at one of the top ten universitys for it, and scored in the top 25% in my first year.
- However, without a computer earlier on, for my DT essays at A-levals, and my English resit at GCSE (which i failed the first time, when i didnt have a computer) I would never have maid it out of highschool, never mind get to where i am now, and hopefully at lot further in the future

Daniel

Reply 12

lovers in japan

2

I don't think it should, as the sound of the keys on the keyboard clattering are very irritating, plus people should just get used to the hand ache. I am happy when I get it, because it means I've written enough. Sure some people cannot write fast enough to get down every point they have, but they should practise, as it is a useful skill to have.

Reply 13

dhutch

17

splorgie

I don't think it should, as the sound of the keys on the keyboard clattering are very irritating, plus people should just get used to the hand ache. I am happy when I get it, because it means I've written enough. Sure some people cannot write fast enough to get down every point they have, but they should practise, as it is a useful skill to have.

With all due respect, did you actally read anyone elses post, such as mine?

Should typing be allowed in exams?

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