Using iPods in exams 

There has been alot stirring north of the border over this development with a centre having to allow a student to use an iPod because it helps calm her down during her exams. You can access the full story with the following link  -  http://www.ndtv.com/article/world/schoolgirl-wins-right-to-use-ipod-in-exams-107834.

An excellent idea some might say and could be utilized across the country except it does raise a few problems. How does a student for example hear announcements and guidance during an exam? Centres would have to meet the cost of an iPod as individuals could not use their own.

The centre would inturn have to put on all the content onto individuals iPods; monitor them all, with all the extra costs and time involved. I think most exams office staff will be rejecting the line taken by SQA, Scotland’s equivalent to the JCQ north of the border and go with the following JCQ response: 

"We noticed the article in the Daily Express yesterday and the stance of the JCQ and its awarding body members will remain that iPods are not permissible in examinations. I will be meeting with the awarding bodies next month, where I will table the respective newspaper article, but certainly for the June 2011 examination series iPods are not permitted and will continue to be perceived as unauthorised material".

We will keep you posted on this issue but please do keep us informed if you are being confronted with this problem in your centre.