Laptops to replace handwriting in exams at Cambridge University

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Eight centuries of students submitting hand-written exam papers could soon come to an end at the world-famous Cambridge University.

The university is considering eliminating compulsory written exams and allowing students to use laptop computers instead, reported British newspapers on Saturday.

The proposed move comes after Cambridge tutors complained that students' handwriting are becoming illegible.

Academics say today's students rely too heavily on laptops in lectures, and are losing the ability to write by hand.

Students have been taking handwritten exams at the university for 800 years. /Photo from The Guardian

Earlier this year Cambridge piloted a program where exams could be taken by typing in its history and classics courses.

In an online survey, students were asked whether they would like the option to type exams, and whether this would have a "significant positive impact" on their "well-being".

Dr Sarah Pearsall, a senior lecturer at Cambridge's History Faculty who was involved with the pilot program earlier this year, told the Daily Telegraph that handwriting is becoming a lost art among the current generation of students.

She said: "Fifteen or twenty years ago students routinely have written by hand several hours a day – but now they write virtually nothing by hand except exams," she told the Daily Telegraph.

"As a faculty we have been concerned for years about the declining handwriting problem. There has definitely been a downward trend. It is difficult for both the students and the examiners as it is harder and harder to read these scripts."

Pearsall added an increasing number of scripts are having to be transcribed centrally, meaning that students with illegible writing are forced to come back to their college during the summer holidays to read their answers aloud in the presence of two university administrators.

The Cambridge University campus. /AFP Photo

Sir Anthony Seldon, vice-chancellor of the University of Buckingham, told the Daily Telegraph it is inevitable that universities will move to computers as handwriting deteriorates in coming years.

"Handwriting is very significantly in decline. We have to accept the reality."

A spokesperson for Cambridge University said their review of exam procedures was prompted by students raising concerns that they rarely hand write during their studies.

"The consultation is on-going and will be used to inform future decision-making on the issue," the spokesperson added.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency