Have you ever wondered what happens to examination scripts when you send them to Pearson? Today,
we will talk you through The Life of a Script. Keep watching, to find out more about scanning,
marking, storage and much more.
Examination scripts are delivered to our Fretwell Road facility, in Hellaby.
Upon arrival, these are unpacked and sorted by individual qualifications.
For example, General Qualifications, BTEC and Functional Skills.
Every parcel is scanned and logged into our Material Management System. A record of the
Consignment Number from the Attendance Register, centre details, subject and exam paper is
captured using a unique barcode ID.
Once received, they are loaded onto a flowrack, a light will flash, indicating a pick by light
system; each lane is specific to a subject.
The operator takes scripts from the flowrack based on the scanning schedule and scans the
barcode as “picked” and the stock is depleted from the Material Management System. Adding
a batch header to the crate, it is placed on the conveyor system for the next step of
the process.
The operator takes a crate of parcels from the conveyor system. The unique barcode ID
is scanned to open the batch in the system. Each parcel is opened, and the “sort”
process begins.
documentation such as student cards and seating plans are removed
The attendance register is removed for processing later
The operator separates the scripts based upon our three scanning methods as well as those
that cannot be scanned at all Can any additional sheets be seen by looking
through the treasury tag hole Are all the centre and candidate details written on the
script – if not these can be added from the Attendance Register
Is there any writing outside of the designated answer space
Has the learner used red ink Are there signs of damage or modification
Is it a photocopy The consignment label is added to the batch
using the unique barcode ID, and the process is repeated for all parcels in the crate.
Everything is place back into the crate and put back onto the conveyor system for the
next process
The operator prepares the crate to have only ePEN scan scripts available by removing:
Parcel bags Attendance Registers for scanning later
Scripts that can be marked using other methods ePEN or primary scan scripts are prepared
for scanning in our Batch Build process; one of our quality gates that records each script
individually before the spine is removed by a cutting machine
Once added to the batch and cut the scripts are ready for scanning
Air is blown into the batch of scripts to aid the separation of sheets of paper. This
increases the performance efficiency of the scanner in the next stage.
The batch is placed on the input tray of the scanner, and the scanning process begins
As each sheet passes through, a scan of both sides is taken and saved in a secure system
location. The machine will scan approximately 15,000 sheets per hour.
An experienced operator can achieve in excess of 11,000 sheets scanned per hour
Once the entire batch is scanned the scripts are sent to the boxing process before finally
stored in a secure library