Assessment Blog

25th July 2022 | What's brewing?

What's Brewing: The invisible designer

RM Studio designer Rob Brewer breaks down the design thinking process his team follow at RM for product, user experience (UX) and service design.

20th July 2022 | Candidate experience

How can candidates best prepare in the run up to exam results?

We’re approaching that time of the year that students across the UK await results from their GCSEs, A-Levels and Scottish Highers. With this in mind, we want to start the conversation about how to prepare ahead of opening those much-anticipated results.

11th July 2022 | Innovation What's brewing?

What's Brewing: Satisfice or Maximise?

It’s holiday season. Not in an American Christmas sense, but in a British, go to Spain and turn the colour of a lobster kind of sense. I was recently talking to a colleague about our respective partners being the chief holiday organiser and how they take it very seriously with an in-depth, thorough review of a range of hotels. I am definitely not that person, when it comes to holidays anyway. But it got me thinking about the way humans make decisions, and the idea that people fall into two categories: maximisers and satisficers.

5th July 2022 | Digital assessment

Transforming assessment in a changing world

COVID brought the whole world together and, for a time, levelled the playing field because we all faced the same challenges. For some the weight of the challenge has ultimately slowed progress, and for others it has accelerated it. However, the impact of the global pandemic has shown a collective will to build on our shared experience and improve the world around us.

29th June 2022 | Research

New research exploring the evolution, benefits, and challenges of digital assessment

Following more than two years of pandemic-induced disruption, exam halls are once again filled with learners. Yet, things are undoubtedly a little different – with the pandemic fast-tracking the digital transformation of assessment methods to provide continuity during the height of disruption now posing the question: what else can it do?

27th June 2022 | Innovation What's brewing?

What's Brewing: An introduction to product design at RM

I’m Rob Brewer and I’m a product designer in RM’s innovation team – RM Studio. I’ve been a designer (service and product) for 6 years and I’ve worked in finance, health tech and now education. Oh and another thing, I’m kind of a big fan of movies. That may or may not become apparent as you read on.

20th June 2022 | Research

How important is research in shaping the future of assessment?

At RM, we believe innovation in assessment can transform educational outcomes. For innovation to become reality, we look to quality research as the foundation on which we build. As we build, research continues to underpin our design thinking. Market intelligence and customer partnerships allow for in-depth user research, that enables tailored digital solutions that meet the changing needs of both our customers and the market.

14th June 2022 | How to

Tips to boost your cyber security when using online assessment technology

The education sector has experienced a dramatic shift in the adoption of technology which has highlighted the potential benefits. But the increase in digitalisation has given rise to more frequent cyber-attacks. Last month, Ofqual published new cyber security guidance for awarding organisations because they accept that cyber-attacks will happen, and organisations must be prepared.

17th May 2022 | News Customer

Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board won two awards in 2021 for adoption of onscreen marking

Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) project “Digitalising Marking of the National Examinations” was conferred the Service Delivery Excellence Award (SDEA), an award under the 2021 Singapore Public Sector Transformation (PST) Awards and the Gold Award of the Singapore Ministry of Education Innergy (Statutory Board) Award.

23rd March 2022 | Insider

The future means change for High Stakes Assessment

In February, a group of experts from across the education industry were brought together by the Westminster Education Forum (WEF), to discuss the future of assessment in England. Ian Castledine, RM's Head of Proposition, was on the panel, and I recently caught up with him to discuss some of the highlights.