No Back Up Papers for Inspera Digital Exams

INFORMATION

Back up papers no longer used for Inspera Digital Exams from 2025-26 onwards

Following a successful two year pilot, we will be removing the option to request back-up papers for all Inspera and Numbas digital exams for 2025/26 and beyond. Back-up papers take a considerable amount of time to prepare and print, cause a lot of problems for marking workflows and assessment retention, and limit innovation in assessment. As only a small number of students ever request a back-up paper (less than 0.5%) they are also very wasteful. As such, LTDS, Exams and UEC have agreed it is best to remove this option going forward.

However, we do realise that back-up papers provide a safety net in the event of technical problems. To mitigate any concerns, we are strengthening invigilator training, pre-exam messaging and guidance, and on-the-day IT support to ensure any student who experiences a technical issue can find help and quickly gain access to their exam.

There may be rare occasions where a paper copy of a digital exam is still needed (e.g. for students sitting a resit/deferred exam at an overseas venue or as part of an exam adjustment stated within a Student Support Plan). In these situations, school colleagues may be asked by the Exams Office Team to provide a printable version and/or give consideration to an alternative assessment, if appropriate.

What are the benefits of not using a back-up paper? 

• Security: such as randomisation of questions, use of Safe Exam Browser (our lockdown browser) and activity monitoring online. 

• Efficiency: Grading online using one system and automated grading for auto marked questions saves time and reduces the possibility of human error. 

• Accessible: Inclusive design features (i.e. dark mode) allow for students to take examinations online using Inspera while using in-built accessibility tools. There are also options for the use of screen reader technology (i.e. Claro) by exempting students from the lockdown environment. 

• Environmental: Reduced paper usage decreasing our environmental footprint. 

• Alignment with our Education Strategy: Ensuring that we, at Newcastle University, are giving our students an enabling environment to embrace digital skills within assessment, which provides an educational experience that ensures our students are fit for their future and have an equitable experience of assessment.

Support for Students

The Digital Exams Team have several processes to support students for digital exams without a back-up paper: 

1. Communications to Module Teams: We ask Module Teams to share communications to students to help prepare for their Inspera exam which is not using a back-up paper version.  
2. Password support from NUIT: In liaison with NUIT, password resets can be carried out if students arrive 20 minutes before the exam starts. 
3. Live troubleshooting: There is troubleshooting support from the Digital Exams Team during main assessment periods where colleagues work with IT, Exams Office and Invigilators to ensure students can access their Inspera exams online. 
4. Student Support Plan (SSP) Requirements: Where a student has a recommendation from Student Health and Wellbeing Service that requires them to have a paper copy of their examination, the Exams Office will liaise with the student/School to ensure an alternative assessment is available or a paper copy provided for that student.