Exam breaches almost double
One hundred students had marks docked from their Year 12 exams last year for cheating, plagiarism or failing to follow exam rules - including submitting work with "inappropriate sexual references".
This was a big increase on the 56 students who were punished for offences the previous year, despite warnings during the year by the School Curriculum and Standards Authority.
Two students lost between 50 and 100 per cent of their written exam marks after being caught with notes in the exam room
Four students had up to 15 per cent deducted for taking mobile phones or iPods into their exam.
Three students lost between 2 and 5 per cent for using a calculator or writing during the time set aside for reading only in written exams.
Another 29 students were docked up to 10 per cent for plagiarism or failing to acknowledge other sources in the practical exams, more than double the 12 students punished for the same offence the previous year.
Most of the penalties were for failure to follow exam instructions in practical exams, with 61 students losing between 2 and 12 per cent of their marks for breaches such as submitting work that identified their name or school, was too big or went over time.
One student lost marks for work that included inappropriate sexual references, though SCSA chief executive Allan Blagaich would not elaborate.
"The sexual reference case is sensitive and the details could identify the student," he said.
Fifteen students appealed against the decisions. One student's appeal was upheld and six had their penalty reduced.
The authority's breach of examination rules committee said the breaches indicated that teachers were not following the practical examination requirements sent to schools in March and were not informing students of the rules.
Mr Blagaich said the authority communicated exam rules to schools and students each year in a wide range of formats.
"It is the responsibility of teachers and students to read the information provided by the authority," he said.
The authority gave notice it may issue harsher penalties for students taking mobile devices into an exam room.
It also urged schools to inform students they should not write on their hands or other parts of their bodies during an exam.
"This may be perceived by supervisors as having been written before the exam and thus constitute unauthorised notes," the authority said.
