Examinations at one of South Africa’s largest institutions are set to get underway later this month. Several changes have been introduced to ensure the integrity of the examinations is upheld.
The University of South Africa (Unisa) has announced that several changes to their examination rules will be applied during the upcoming examination season. These changes will have an impact on what students can and cannot do during online examinations.
Unisa explained that the changes it has made for the upcoming January/February 2023 examinations was done to ensure that the integrity of the examinations is upheld.
The January/February examinations are for supplementary examinations, aegrotat examinations, special examinations and for selected Further Diploma subjects.
Students will now only be given 30 minutes to upload their answer scripts for written examinations. The written examinations must be uploaded on the myExams platform. Students will also only have one submission opportunity for multiple-choice examinations.
Unisa has also prohibited students from listening to audio/music during examinations. Students will also not be allowed to use audio-to-text software during the examinations. The only time this software can be used is when it is related to a student’s assisted device which must have been declared to Unisa prior to the examination.
The university warned that failure to comply with these rules will result in a student’s marks being withheld.
Unisa explained, “Listening to music, utilising such software and/or failing to declare the software is a transgression of Unisa’s examination rules and the student’s marks will be withheld.”
The use of Proctoring tools is required by Unisa for online examinations. This is a further effort to maintain the integrity of the examination.
A proctoring tool verifies the student’s identity during the examination using the camera of the device. Students are therefore require to working camera on their laptop, computer or smartphone.
Unisa also has several essential tips for students participating in online examinations. These tips include completing a mock examination and completing the Basic Skills For Online Exams course.
The January/February 2023 online examination period will start on 23 January 2023.
