Bundles of exam papers will be tagged with the RFID devices, which have a unique signal enabling them to be tracked down if they go missing. The tags will store information such as how many papers are in a bundle, which school they came from, and where they are heading.
Edexcel is also planning to use a printing technology called micro-texting, which identifies photocopied exam papers. Tiny marks will be made on genuine papers which will only be visible under a magnifying glass.
In 2006, the exam board delivered 620,000 bundles of papers to UK schools and colleges. 70 suspected security breaches were investigated, most of which involved packages being accidentally opened at the wrong time.
We’re doing a major trial of new techniques and technologies with the aim of deterring potential thefts, enabling us to better identify the source of a lost or stolen paper, and reducing the threat of fake papers being sold to candidates, said Edexcel’s managing director, Jerry Jarvis.
