More HSC exams are going online, and English is the paper test students want to ditch next
The majority of Year 12 students want to ditch traditional pen and paper exams, new research has revealed, as NSW’s examiners prepare for the HSC’s first ever computer-based coding exams.
The majority of Year 12 students want to type their final English, history and health tests on a computer and ditch the traditional pen and paper exams, new research has revealed, as NSW’s examiners prepare for the HSC’s first ever computer-based software and coding exams.
Feedback was sought from almost 2000 Enterprise Computing, Software Engineering and Science Extension students across nearly 200 schools who undertook the CSSA trial exams in August, with largely positive results.
The CSSA is the assessment arm of Catholic Schools NSW but has also supplied trial exam papers to government and independent schools for decades, and has partnered this year with online assessment provider Gradeo to deliver the computer-based exams which included writing and running code, scripts and algorithms.
Three in four of the 181 students who responded to the Gradeo survey said they would support moving more HSC exams online or were undecided, with just 17 per cent opposed.
“Typing meant I wasn’t worried about messy handwriting costing me marks,” one student responded, while another said it had “made it easier to get ideas out clearly”.
The more unique aspects of the computing exams, including graphing and coding, had mixed results.
While one student reported “using SQL in the exam made it feel more like what we’ve done in class” another said they “didn’t realise how the spreadsheet graph worked until after the exam” and wished they had practised more.
More than 60 per cent wanted to make English exams computer-based however, and there was broad support for digitising Studies of Religion and other HSIE subjects like Ancient and Modern History, Geography, Economics and Business Studies too.
Just over 40 per cent of students wanted to bring PDHPE – or health – online, and about 25 per cent were opposed.
In stark contrast support for maintaining pen-and-paper maths exams was almost universal, with 93 per cent of students against a digital version.
Gradeo founder Alex Dore said online examinations – using locked down browsers in timed exam conditions and invigilated – could test students’ skills more accurately than handwritten ones.
Other jurisdictions overseas have managed to move their final exams online, he said, even mathematics with its complex notations and chemical symbols.
“We’re seeing that shifting exams online can give us new ways to test skills and knowledge like coding and using a spreadsheet, that simply weren’t possible to do authentically on paper,” he said.
“The truth is that students of today are more digital than ever.
“They’ve been brought up on technology and then they’re plunged into high-stakes 3 hour handwritten final exams, so the shift online is an exciting change for many.”
HSC exams for Enterprise Computing and Software Engineering exams will be held later this month.
Science Extension was the first subject to be digitised back in 2019, and the NSW Educational Standards Authority (NESA) will also introduce online exams for English Extension 1 and 2 from 2027.
CSSA Head of Assessment Monica O’Brien said the new trials required months of preparation from the exam committees, teachers, principals and IT specialists.
“Online exams have a million moving parts; they’re complicated technical undertakings, and they take focus, investment, preparation and strategic planning to land,” she said.
“It’s a big shift, but ultimately, it’s one we truly believe has created benefits for students, teachers and schools as they now approach their three online HSC exams.”
Originally published as More HSC exams are going online, and English is the paper test students want to ditch next
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