Please read the below and sign the petition if you agree. Show your support for academic integrity and exams taken under controlled conditions! 

Abstract

• Cambridge International Examinations (hereafter referred to as CIE) are qualifications awarded to Candidates from assessments taken during exam seasons.
• A great majority of CIE qualifications are derived solely from the Candidate’s performance in the examinations.
• The writer of this petition urges you to support in-person CIE examinations where it is safe to do so. 
• The writer outlines several key points as to why in-person CIE examinations should continue by refuting points made by proponents of cancelling CIE examinations. 
• The New Zealand Government has permitted CIE examinations to continue provided safety measures are in place. Source
• The alternative to in-person CIE examinations are School Assessed Grades derived from Internet assessed "mock" exams conducted by each school.

 

Examination demands

Regardless of COVID-19, CIE examinations have historically been “all-or-nothing” on the final exams. It is not in the best interest of CIE and the Candidates for a deviation from this tried-and-tested approach. It is lamentable that Candidates may be affected by physical and mental stresses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on academic ventures such as CIE examinations. The process of preparing for CIE examinations has traditionally been arduous and tolling on the Candidate in any circumstance.

 

Advantages of an in-person examination

Candidates and the prestige of their CIE qualification will certainly benefit from in-person examinations. School Assessed Grades (hereinafter referred to as SAGs) are not a substitute for a typical CIE examination. SAGs are not without their purpose. They are perfectly valid as practice material for exam Candidates as part of their preparation leading up to the CIE examinations. However, in a typical CIE examination, all candidates in the same region are examined on the same tasks. The results from candidates are then compared between different regions and “scaled” to produce the final result which is consistent across the entire exam season. Conversely, SAGs are different between each school and do not provide an even playing field to display the Candidate’s proficiency. For example, SAGs may vary in the number of questions assessed from each topic, examination format (digital platforms versus paper) and question design. Even factors such as the length and time of the examination may affect candidates.

 

Validity and integrity of Internet assessments

Candidates have completed SAGs during COVID-19 lockdowns in New Zealand remotely via the Internet. It has been well-documented that assessments conducted via the Internet are vulnerable to dishonest practices such as cheating. As these examinations are conducted remotely at different locations without a physical proctor/examiner, it is difficult to control the environment in which the Candidate is examined in. Undoubtedly, cheating is possible in typical CIE in-person examinations. However, remote Internet examinations are particularly prone to exam malpractice by Candidates as the methods in which Candidates are monitored are limited compared to the presence of physical proctors/examiners in the room with the Candidate. There have been high-profile incidents of malpractice in institutions worldwide, such as the University of Auckland and the United States Naval Academy, enabled by electronically facilitated examinations. This is a great blow to the Naval Academy’s Honor Concept which states that midshipmen (students) do not “lie, cheat or steal”. As a result, the reputation of the aforementioned institutions and the validity of their academic qualifications have been jeopardized. Likewise, CIE examinations are not useful to the Candidate if their integrity is compromised, and alternatives should only proceed if in person CIE examinations are not possible. Therefore, taking CIE examinations in person is the fairest way to ensure Candidates are assessed objectively based on the well-established criteria of the course. 

 

Accurate assessment of Candidate knowledge

As Candidates progress throughout the school year, they are allowed to delve deeper into the content of a course and adequately prepare themselves for the CIE examinations. SAGs derived from school formative assessments used to monitor the progress of Candidates throughout the academic year are illegitimate as summative assessments. Such formative assessments are useful in highlighting to the Candidate their strengths and weaknesses in a particular subject as a guide to improving their performance for the final CIE examinations - the capstone summative assessment. Using SAGs from earlier throughout the year is not an accurate reflection of the Candidate’s performance in the final CIE examinations.

 

COVID-safe examinations

The New Zealand Government has opened up vaccination to anyone aged 12 and over. Vaccination in New Zealand is free to everyone and has been available to the general public from September 1st onwards. Regardless of personal beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccination, CIE examinations can be conducted with the health concerns of Candidates in mind - for example, keeping Candidates who are vaccinated separately from those who are not. In conjunction with other commonplace preventative measures such as hand sanitizing, face masks, and social distancing, Candidates can be reassured of their health.

There is no doubt that COVID-19 has had a profound impact on the health of people globally. It has proven itself as a virus to be reckoned with. Many COVID-19 infections have occurred in a school environment. Without COVID-19 restrictions, schools are high-density environments that catalyze the outbreak. However, operating under preventative measures proposed by the Ministry of Education is a reasonable method to continue CIE examinations. Numerous businesses can operate under similar restrictions during Alert Level 3 - CIE examinations should too. As the world and New Zealand adapts to the ever-changing landscape post-COVID-19, CIE examinations are adapting to safe practices for Candidates in the new world.

 

Conclusion

At the end of the year, it would be regrettable if CIE examinations were cancelled. Although traditionally these examinations have brought students anguish and concern throughout the years, they are the culmination of our hard work through thick and thin, for which every Candidate deserves to take pride. The legitimacy of this world-renowned qualification should not be diminished or compromised when it is appropriate to continue to proceed with the conventional examination procedure. I encourage all CIE Candidates in New Zealand and their Supporters to support in-person final examinations and continue to strive for academic excellence.