Breaches of Examination Rules

1 May, 2007

Statistics on breaches of examination rules for the 2006 exams were released by NZQA today (1 May).

A total of 336 breaches of the examination rules were investigated in 2006, from a total of 138,260 candidates. For the 2005 exams, there were 208 breaches reported from 134,800 candidates.

Deputy Chief Executive, Qualifications, Bali Haque said: "While the number of breaches is a very small percentage of total candidates, the increase indicates some students need reminding of exam rules and procedures. We will be again reminding schools and candidates of the rules and procedures before this year’s examinations."

Exam supervisors are encouraged to report all possible breaches, no matter how minor, to preserve the integrity of all results. Punishment for breaches can range from a warning letter, to having results withheld.

In 135 cases, candidates had some or all results withheld – two candidates had all results withheld for "collusion". For the 2005 exams, 95 students had exam results withheld.

In the remainder of cases alternative action, including the issuing of reprimands, was taken.

The number of candidates investigated for causing a disturbance ("Influencing/Assisting or Hindering") was 49, up from 14 such cases in 2005.

"The increase in disturbance of the examinations by candidates is viewed very seriously by NZQA because this can disrupt other candidates," Mr Haque said.

While there were 56 incidents where candidates were discovered with cell phones turned on, or on them, only two involved candidates using their phones.

Breaches investigated

(Note: candidates can be investigated for more than one breach of the rules)

136 candidates were investigated for "Accessing Information or Materials" - including taking their own paper, or notes, into the exam room, or communicating with other candidates in the exam room. Two candidates used cell phones to access information (89 candidates were investigated for Accessing Information or Materials in 2005).

142 candidates were investigated for "Not Following Instructions". In this category 56 candidates took cell phones with them into the exam room. Also in this category are candidates who left the exam room early (within the first 30 minutes), failed to stop writing at the end of the exam, or made inappropriate comments to the supervisors. Thirteen candidates in this category took one or more exam papers from the exam room. (70 candidates were investigated for Not Following Instructions in 2005)

49 candidates were investigated for "Influencing/Assisting or Hindering" during the exams. This is general disruption of the exam room. (14 candidates were investigated for "Influencing/Assisting or Hindering" in 2005.)

33 candidates were investigated for making offensive or inappropriate comments on their answer booklets (47 candidates were investigated in 2005).

10 candidates were investigated for possibly altering their answer booklets before they were sent in for reconsideration (4 in 2005).

2 candidates were investigated for Performance Based Authenticity, where a number of students submitted work that was very similar in nature (29 candidates were investigated in 2005).

For more information contact:

Steve Rendle
Senior Media Adviser
04 463 4240
0274 57 57 83

Page updated: 09 January 2007