The Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) exams in April were cancelled due to COVID-19. The BSB then contracted with US testing company Pearson VUE to run the exam online in August.
However, a group of students raised objections to the ‘unfair and discriminatory’ proposals, in a letter to the BSB this week. Candidates are required to have a private and quiet examination room, with no extraneous noise, and must be videoed by a webcam throughout the three-hour exam, which terminates automatically if the student moves away from the webcam.
The students called for open book conditions which allow for breaks. They complained about a ‘lack of prior consultation’ and ‘ongoing lack of information about the exams’ as well as the ‘potentially unfair and discriminatory impact’ on women, candidates with disabilities and candidates in other timezones, for example, 25 students are from Mauritius.
A survey conducted by the students, with 335 responses, found 93% agreed the requirements of the online exam would negatively affect their performance. Three-quarters did not have access to a quiet room. The survey highlighted other issues such as bladder problems, back pain and unreliable internet connectivity.
A BSB spokesperson said: ‘BPTC providers will be in contact with students shortly to discuss their individual needs with them in the first instance. We are very conscious of the need to ensure that the arrangements we have made are fair for everyone and we are committed to working with relevant experts, providers and others as we prepare to deliver the exams, in line with the public sector equality duty and our duty to make reasonable adjustments and our wider commitment to accessibility. We will also be publishing further guidance for students around these issues shortly.’
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