Introduction

For school children examinations are at best unpleasant necessities at the end of the year, at worst a nightmare. What most never realize is that examinations are as much of a nightmare for the school authorities as they are for pupils.

From the preparation of the syllabus, which controls the contents of the question papers, the publication of those papers, through the actual holding of the examinations to the marking and evaluation of the answer papers the whole process is a very complicated project with many potential stumbling blocks.

Unfortunately it is also a process of great importance, particularly for the pupils’ future life. It can also have influence on both the reputation of the schools and of the teachers. Bad results can ruin the chances of a better life for the pupils, however they can also affect the career of a teacher and in some countries can even affect the future funding of a school.

All in all the smooth and fair running of an examination is important for many parties.

Challenges

Unfortunately one of the worst challenges facing the authorities responsible for examinations is fraud, or as it is often called Examination Malpractice. Sadly the easiest way to pass an examination is to know the exact questions before the examination takes place. The only way that is possible is to see the question before the examination is held. For a pupil this is only possible via illegal means. In some cases there are even well financed gangs and organized criminal cells involved.

The theft of the examination paper questions is possible at any of the many steps that form together an examination process. Unfortunately, the phrase “Where there is a will there is a way” is very true. If someone really wants to steal an examination paper there is no 100% way of stopping them. However, there are a number of ways that the risks can be greatly reduced, in almost all the phases.