SACE Board software update blocks apps such as Grammarly, ChatGPT for online exams

As Year 12 students begin cramming for their final exams the SACE Board has made a big change to its online testing.

Year 12 students taking online exams this year will be blocked from using apps such as Grammarly or ChatGPT.

It comes after a glitch last year allowed some students to use software applications to fix spelling and grammar mistakes.

Access to external websites or apps has previously been blocked by the SACE Board but an update to the computer program used to run online exams last year allowed students who already had apps such as Grammarly installed on their devices to use the software.

The problem was first discovered after the English Literary Studies exam, prompting concerns it gave those students an unfair advantage.

Following inquiries by The Advertiser the SACE Board has confirmed it had closed the loophole in 2023.

“The SACE Board has reviewed, updated and tested exam software to block the use of Grammarly and other known apps such as ChatGPT,” a spokeswoman said.

A total 7785 students are enrolled in 15 SACE Stage 2 subjects for which there will be an online exam this year.

Those exams will be held from November 6 and include English Literary Studies, Biology, Geography, Psychology, Nutrition, Tourism, Modern History, Legal Studies and languages.

There were 7708 students who sat online exams in 15 subjects in 2022.

Overall, almost 12,300 students are enrolled in at least one SACE Stage 2 subject with an exam this year, including many conducted using pen and paper.

The SACE spokeswoman said exam supervisors had completed updated training through the SACE Board and it was providing advice for information technology (IT) co-ordinators to “support a smooth e-exam experience in schools”.

Last year English teachers took to social media forums to accuse the SACE Board of giving an unfair advantage to students with Grammarly installed on their devices over those without the software.

However, SACE Board chief executive Michaela Bensley said at the time that exam markers had been told to take “additional consideration so that no student is advantaged or disadvantaged”.

While artificial intelligence (AI) is being blocked at exam time, South Australian education authorities have embraced the technology in classrooms.

At least 16 public schools are trialling a program based on similar technology to ChatGPT.

The trial is intended to show students how AI can support their studies through image and video generation, intelligent tutoring systems and chatbots that can answer questions.

Authorities say there are safeguards built in to the app – designed in partnership with Microsoft – to ensure privacy and security and prevent students from accessing information that may put them at risk.

South Australia is the only jurisdiction in the country not to have banned AI in schools.