[senco-forum] JCQ and gel pens (was: Exam Access Arrangements)

...I've finally received a reply from the JCQ (Joint Council for

> ...I've finally received a reply from the JCQ (Joint Council for
> Qualifications) regarding their ban on the use of 'Gel Pens' in
> examinations.

Here's the full text of their reply that's in many ways highly
unsatisfactory.

I'll certainly be responding to this in the very near future, but in
the meantime I'd appreciate comments from you my fellow SENCo
forumers.

>>>
  Joint Council for Qualifications
  Veritas House
  125 Finsbury Pavement
  London EC2A 1NQ

  Telephone 020 7638 EXT
  Fax 020 7374 4343
  Email infoCjcq.org.uk
  Website www.jcq.org.uk

  30 August 2006

  Dear Mr Bowles

  I am writing to you in response to your letter of 19 May to the JCQ. I
  apologise for the delay in sending you this response. We have been
  making the necessary enquiries to establish the concerns that led to
  the inclusion of gel pens in the list of items that cannot be used in
  examination answers (JCQ Instructions for conducting examinations
  10.3).

  You may be aware that many awarding bodies are now using scanning
  technologies to allow the electronic distribution, marking and storage
  of scripts. Some of these processes create heat during the scanning
  this has the effect of causing the gel to appear transparent. This in
  turn means that an answer will be outside the recognition criteria and
  this causes the writing to become illegible. It is therefore, not only
  the colour of the ink but the nature of the gel that creates the
  problem. Therefore the restrictions on the use of gel pens will
  continue to be included in the JCQ Instructions.

  The Awarding Bodies make careful checks to ensure that no answers are
  ignored. The marking of answers that fail the scanning process are
  dealt with by manual intervention to extract them and send them for
  traditional marking methods

  The use of highlighter pens has been reviewed and the Instructions
  will be amended to read "in your answers" therefore removing the
  problem of combined question and answer booklets. All answers must be
  clearly visible and in black or blue ink. Your comments have been
  useful in helping the awarding bodies to clarify this issue and make
  the important distinction between the skills taught to students in
  focusing on the questions, as opposed to the answers they actually
  record and this amendment confirms that there is nothing to stop
  candidates from using highlighter pens to highlight words or phrases
  in the questions. The problem with the use of a highlighter on any of
  the actual answers is again because this will interfere with any
  scanning or copying of the script.

  Your concerns are that by adding these items to the Instructions, JCQ
  has been discriminatory. This is not the case since the Disability
  Discrimination Act is in place to allow candidates to access the
  examination without gaining an unfair advantage. For candidates with
  particular needs, access arrangements may be used to allow a candidate
  to use a suitable method of working such as a computer or voice
  activated machine. There will always be a need for individual
  circumstances to be taken into account when examination arrangements
  are being made for candidates with particular needs. For example, if a
  candidate has problems using a pen they may apply to use a scribe to
  record their answers. We are unsure what advantage you feel the use of
  a gel pen gives candidates. If you would like to discuss the matter
  further please contact my colleague Janet Williams, Principal Manager,
  Candidate Services, AQA on 01483 477667.

  I hope that this helps to explain the rationale behind the relevant
  section of the JCQ Instructions for conducting examinations.

  Yours sincerely

  Dr. Ellie Johnson Searle Director

>>>

Well at least the SENCo forum can pride itself on successfully getting
the UK exam regulations amended so as to more sensibly clarify the
circumstances in which highlighters can and can't be used.

As for me, I'm certainly not going to let this matter drop.
Furthermore I predict the JCQ's reaffirmation of their regulations on
the use of gel pens in exams is likely to be far their last ruling on
this issue...

David Bowles