While the headlines were dominated by a proposed ban on watches in the exam hall, the independent inquiry into exam malpractice also made other important recommendations. Its chair, Sir John Dunford, explains

All watches are likely to be banned from examination rooms following the recommendation of the Independent Commission on Examination Malpractice, established by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), the over-arching organisation for the eight main awarding bodies.

JCQ established the Commission to consider the drivers of malpractice in the examination system and make recommendations as to how cheating could be reduced.

Like mobile phones, smart watches are already banned. However, with smart watches able to be switched at the press of a small button from smart to normal, the task for invigilators has become almost impossible. The only approach is to ban all watches, an outcome which looks likely to become part of the rules in summer 2020 after the JCQ board has considered the matter later this year.

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