Is Results Day Broken? Why Exams Must Finally Enter the Digital Age
Results Day has become a national ritual. Every summer, headlines celebrate top grades while thousands of students wait anxiously to find out whether their future is still on track. But behind the headlines, a more uncomfortable truth persists. The current assessment system is outdated, inflexible, and increasingly out of step with how we live, learn and work.
These are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. Each grade represents the effort and potential of a young person who has spent years revising, pushing through disrupted learning, and juggling academic pressure with mental health challenges and future uncertainty. University offers, apprenticeships, and life opportunities often hang on the outcome of one exam, on one day. And that raises a fundamental question. Is this really the best we can do?
The truth is that our high-stakes assessment system is stuck in the past. The Curriculum and Assessment Review in England and Wales is a rare chance to fix it. But time is running out. While countries like Canada, Finland and New Zealand are already scaling up digital assessment, England and Wales are still clinging to pen and paper.
Patrick Coates, CEO of the e-Assessment Association says, “We’re not calling for the end of human marking, we’re calling for smarter assessment. By combining the best of human insight with the power of digital technology, we can create a system that is not only more efficient and scalable, but also more authentic, inclusive and reflective of the real world our learners are heading into.”
In almost every modern workplace, digital tools are the norm. Yet in our schools and exam halls, handwritten responses remain the default. This disconnect makes exams less relevant, less inclusive, and less capable of capturing the range of skills learners will need in life beyond education. Digital assessment allows for richer question types, better accessibility for students with additional needs, and a more authentic demonstration of reasoning, analysis and digital fluency. Continuing with handwritten exams is not tradition. It is neglect.
Then there is the question of marking. Human expertise is valuable, but the current model is stretched to breaking point. Every year, exam boards struggle to recruit enough markers. Many are exhausted after a full academic year. And despite standardisation efforts, inconsistencies in judgement persist. Borderline answers can receive very different marks depending on who is reading them. This is not a flaw in the system. It is the system.
Technology can solve many of these issues. Digital platforms offer greater consistency, faster processing, and better scalability. They can automate routine marking tasks, support human reviewers with data insights, and generate real-time feedback that helps learners progress. Most importantly, they can flag anomalies, identify potential errors, and ensure that no student is overlooked. Done well, digital assessment is not just more efficient. It is more just.
That does not mean removing humans from the process. Far from it. In a hybrid model, technology handles scale and repetition while human markers focus on interpretation, creativity and nuance. The two work in tandem. AI can support consistency. Human judgement adds meaning. Together, they create a system that is smarter, more reliable, and better aligned with the real world.
A Moment for Change
Results Day should not be a national stress test. It should be a moment of recognition and opportunity. Instead, it has become a spotlight on everything the system gets wrong. The reliance on a single mode of assessment. The pressure it puts on students and teachers. The outdated methods. The inconsistencies in marking. The growing gap between what exams test and what the world demands.
As Patrick Coates warns, continuing with paper-based assessment is not just outdated. It is unwise. The solution is not to abandon human input. It is to build a better model, one where digital tools enhance fairness, accuracy, and relevance for every learner.
This year’s results are about more than grades. They are a reminder that the system must change. And the time to act is now.
About the eAA
The e-Assessment Association plays a vital role in bringing together a global community of awarding organisations, assessment providers, technology experts, academics, and educational institutions dedicated to advancing the field of digital assessment. By fostering collaboration across these diverse stakeholders, we create a unique platform to share expertise, insights, and best practices that drive innovation and address the evolving needs of the assessment landscape.
This extensive network of professionals equips the eAA with a deep understanding of assessment technologies and their applications, enabling us to address complex challenges such as ethical considerations, accessibility, and the rapid pace of technological evolution. As digital assessment becomes more central to education and professional qualifications, our role in shaping this transformation ensures that it remains inclusive, equitable, and aligned with the highest standards of integrity.
Central to our mission is the eAA’s unwavering commitment to fostering confidence and trust in digital assessments. This includes addressing critical issues like data security, ensuring assessments are accessible to all learners, and building frameworks that inspire trust among stakeholders. By creating spaces for dialogue and collaboration, we help guide the global assessment community toward solutions that not only meet today’s demands but also anticipate future challenges, ensuring that digital assessments are secure, fair, and impactful for learners worldwide.
Individuals can join the eAA for free – find out more here.
