Human readers versus digital tools in exams
The costs, the challenges, and a better way to support learners
More students need readers and scribes than ever before. Digital tools help you meet that need, reduce costs, and give every learner a consistent experience.
Laura's human reader story
To understand what learners experience in a one to one reader arrangement, Laura from our team stepped into the role of a human reader in Belfast last summer.
She was placed with a student for a three hour online exam that covered diploma-level legal vocabulary.
They sat in a small room, side by side, in silence except for her voice. The student had no control over her accent, her speed or her reading style.
Key concerns
- Reader accent or speed may affect understanding
- Reader may not understand advanced subject material
- Emotional pressure for both people
- No consistent experience
Human readers and scribes versus digital tools
Cost
£486 per student vs Included in licences
Staffing
Requires readers and invigilators vs No extra staffing
Rooming
Often needs extra rooms vs Works in standard rooms
Independence
Learner depends on adult vs Learner leads support
Scalability
One adult per student vs Supports many learners
The financial impact of human readers and scribes
Human support adds significant cost during exam season. When Laura worked as a human reader, she was paid £18 per hour within an exam center in Northern Ireland. That results in a spend of £486 per student across 27 GCSE exam hours.
Schools can reduce these costs by 60 to 90 percent when they move from human support to digital tools. This frees up budget and protects teaching time.
Book a chat with our team
Let’s talk about what’s possible for your students or classroom. Fill out the form and we’ll be in touch soon.
We’ll arrange a time to talk and discuss your needs.
We can discuss the challenges you currently face with human readers and scribes, and how we can better support your learners.
Alan Sharpe
Team Lead, Sales Development