Is there a better way to get exam results?

Results time is emotionally charged

Students at Cambridge University want to put a stop to publicly posting exam results for everyone to see. But is there a good way of breaking such potentially bad news?

For 300 years students at Cambridge University have learned their exam results from public notice boards.

But that could be about to end. Hundreds of students have signed a petition calling for a more humane alternative for telling them how they fared in their finals.

Lack of privacy is their main objection. Unlike many other universities, which use student code numbers instead of names when posting results publicly, at Cambridge everyone's name and grade in on display.

Inevitably, some students suffer the indignity of finding out second-hand that they have passed or failed.

"It just adds to the stress," says Ben Brinded, president of the Cambridge Student Union. "You get a sort of Chinese whispers scenario where people are hearing this important news from someone they've never met before."

The university authorities say they are looking into the matter.

Tension time: Cambridge's "wailing wall" © Cambridge2000.com

But you don't have to be a Cambridge student to know the stomach-churning agony of getting exam results.

Spare a thought for those with ambitions to be chartered accountants. Until recently, the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA) published all interim and final results in a Saturday edition of the Times newspaper.

This led to many anxious students cutting short their Friday evening fun to seek out an early edition of the paper at a late-opening corner shop. Saturday's hangover was either tinged with relief or despair.

The institute still publishes its results in the Times, but now also offers text message and e-mail.

"About 80% of our students opt for e-mail or text message," says the institute's Aude Leonetti.

Some universities are following suit. Last week, East London University launched online access to exam results. Students use pin numbers to find out how they did.

Text results?

Text message is ideal for students, says Daniel Payne, of Mindmatics, which handles the bulk texting of results for the ICA.

62% of students want A-level results by text Freedom and convenience are the main reasons Research by Orange Cambridge students oppose wall of worry

"It's immediate, personal and secure. Even if you are abroad, you get your results within a few minutes of them being released," he says.

Given teenagers are some of the most avid texters, wouldn't it make sense if GCSE and A-level results were sent by text as well?

The idea was raised by the government's E-envoy two years ago and received student backing in research surveys. But exam boards, some of which are no strangers to security breaches, fear the embarrassment of results going astray.

"We know technically it can be done and it could lessen the agony of those waiting for a brown envelope to drop through their letter box," says Stevie Pattison-Dick, of exam board Edexcel.

But results by text are still some years off according to Bene't Steinberg, of the OCR exam board.

"It's something that we're all interested in. Initially, it needs a common database between exam boards. There's a lot of modernisation going on in the exam process at the moment, but refining the delivery of results will come some time after we're fully in the 21st Century."

Add your comments to this story using the form below:

Tradition or not, it's unfair for final results to be publically posted. How about in a sealed envelope and let the students decide who they want to tell?
David, UK

As an engineering student at Cambridge I had to read my results off the boards like everyone else, and rather enjoyed the experience. I did nowhere near as well as I'd hoped but does the method matter?
Duncan Brewer, England

I honestly never had a problem with results being posted on the Senate House noticeboard. Keep it, it's part of being at Cambridge, and if nothing else, it's an incentive to revise!
Sarah, UK

Having just graduated from Keele University I understand the stress of receiving results. I think the system used by Keele worked really well as students could access lists of results at several locations accross campus including bars, departments and the Student Union as well as being able to see the list online in the library or the privacy of their own room. For final degree results only the grades were published with the students name, however, this was a good thing as it prepared you to congratualte or commiserate friends.
Lucy, UK

I think this is a good idea simply because of practicability. I go to Durham University, and there was a massive crush to get to the pass list. The list was put up in the only convenient area; unfortunately it was cramped, hot, painful and tantamount to cruel and unusual punishment. We also could get the results online, but they didn't appear for many hours after the paper lists were published.
Gareth Alexander, England

Not all teenagers have mobile phones and it would be unfair for those with the money to get results early and make the ones without a phone feel excluded. I have two teenagers and neither of them have a phone. D.
Donna Hutchings, UK

Open University has the best online service site I have ever seen. Exam boards should hurry up with following the OU example - texting A-level students seems totally appropriate regarding their culture.
Nadine Hengen, Luxembourg, ex-UK Student

When I recieved the results to my accountacy exams it was by text message. It actually works really well as it allows the individual to choose where they receive those results and who they receive them with.
Andrew Jones, UK

Exeter University is no different. It's not like Cambridge is the only one here. Results are posted on the noticeboards for all to see, its hardly a stressfull affair.
Ben Betts, England

E-mail or texts sent directly to students with their exam results would be very welcome, especially to my son this year. We will be on holiday in the United States when his A-level results are announced.
Sue Rowe, England

You should feel more sorry for students studying (as I did) mathematics at Cambridge - their final year results are READ OUT to students gathered at 9am at Senate House on the Thursday of May Week. The posting of results is traditional - and should continue
Kathryn Huish, UK

Text results are already in practice in Gujarat, India. Approximately 550,000 pupils sit their exams every year and last year most got their results by internet and text.
Deep, UK/India

Come on Cambridge - get into the 21st Century! Most UK universities do everything they can to keep all results confidential.
Susie Atherton, UK

How would you know the text message is genuine? I can see this being a perfect prank.
Abigail, London, UK

At Bristol University we have just shifted to posting exam results up using the student's "candidate no." rather than their name. This is a number that is used to ensure exam papers are marked anonymously. Since other students do not know this number, privacy is protected. It seems simpler than trying to text.
Dr Evan Jones, UK

The claim that text messages are "immediate, personal and secure" is quite frankly outrageous. There is no guarantee at all. I had a message take 2 days to get to me from 100 yards away.
Andrew, Cambridge, UK