Candidate assessment redaction is the removal of personal data from a test or exercise result. Equality Act 2010 s.19 catches an assessment that looks neutral but disadvantages a protected group, and ss.20-21 require a reasonable adjustment to the testing process itself for a disabled candidate, such as extra time. Where scoring is left entirely to an algorithm, UK GDPR Art. 22 gives the candidate a right not to be subject to that decision alone. anonym.plus marks names and origin cues on your device, so the result is reviewed on merit, with a human able to check the outcome.
When this applies
A scored exercise carries a name header and demographic fields, and if the marking is automated, Art. 22 means a human still has to be able to review it meaningfully. You hide identity cues so the result is judged against the role and, where needed, checked by a person rather than left to the algorithm alone.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Open the result in anonym.plus on your device.
- Built-in OCR reads a scanned answer sheet.
- The app marks name, origin, and contact fields.
- Confirm each marking and keep the score and rubric.
- Swap each cue for a neutral label.
- Save the cleaned result locally.
What you need to provide
- The assessment result (PDF, DOCX, or scan).
- An operator (Replace keeps the rubric readable).
- The optional alias map, ON to re-link a top scorer.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | test taker Ruiz → [CANDIDATE] |
| Origin | NRP | demographic field → [ORIGIN] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | DOB 1996 → [DOB] |
| Contact | EMAIL_ADDRESS | ruiz@example.co.uk → [EMAIL] |
| Identifiers | NATIONAL_ID | candidate ref → [REF] |
| Location | LOCATION | test centre → [LOCATION] |
Compliance achieved
- Supports validated, job-related scoring under Equality Act 2010 s.19.
- Leaves room for the reasonable-adjustment duty in ss.20-21 for a disabled candidate's testing process.
- Where scoring is automated, keeps a human review consistent with UK GDPR Art. 22.
- Offline work keeps the score off the cloud.
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Limitations & cautions
A written answer can reveal origin through phrasing or detail, and s.19 asks about the practical effect on a group, which the app cannot judge from a single script. Read open responses for indirect cues before scoring, and watch for any indirect adverse impact or a missed reasonable-adjustment request.
Frequently asked questions
Why anonymise a scored exercise?
Hiding identity supports validated scoring against Equality Act 2010 s.19, so a result reflects the exercise rather than who sat it. It also makes it easier to spot if one group is scoring differently for reasons unrelated to the role.
Does this replace a reasonable-adjustment request?
No. Sections 20 and 21 require adjusting the test itself, such as extra time, when a disabled candidate asks. anonym.plus only removes identity from the result; it does not manage adjustment requests.
What if the test is scored by software?
UK GDPR Art. 22 still expects a human to be able to check a purely automated result. Keeping the assessment reviewable, even after identity is removed, supports that check.