Widespread use of Summative Online Unsupervised Remote (SOUR) examinations in UK Higher Education. Ethical and Quality Assurance Implications.

The use of summative online unsupervised remote (SOUR) examinations during the COVID lockdown was associated with increased cheating. New generative AI chatbots have added further concern, since they can answer exam questions to a very high level. However, we lack data on how common these examinations are. Here we used a Freedom of Information request methodology to determine whether universities in the United Kingdom used SOUR examinations in the 23/24 academic year. We found extensive use of these examinations with minimal plans to reduce for future years. Policies for the security of SOUR examinations often put students in the paradoxical position of being required to work under ‘examination conditions’ remotely, but with no attempt by the university to administer those conditions. This situation raises questions over the validity of SOUR examinations as an assessment format, and the quality assurance of degree awards which include these assessments.