Following a record number of 28,972 responses to its consultation in July, Ofqual has confirmed that some GCSEs, AS and A Levels will be modified for summer 2021.

These changes to some assessments for next summer follow concerns about the impacts of lost learning time for those students taking exams in 2021. New arrangements aim to free-up teaching time, reduce pressure on students and allow exams to be taken within current public health restrictions.

Key announcements include:

• GCSE Geography, History and Ancient History content will change*
• GCSE English Literature will change to allow more choice of topics on which students are required to answer questions in their exams
• Greater use of optional questions will not be available, unless this is to accommodate subject specific decisions
• Schools and colleges do not need to complete the specified amount of time for fieldwork in the GCSE, AS and A Level Geography specifications. The requirement of two occasions at GCSE, two days at AS Level and four days at A Level is no longer mandated. The non-exam assessment for Geography should be retained at A Level but exam boards should consider how they can be flexible in their requirements to use primary data.
  
• Schools and colleges do not need to mandate specified days of fieldwork in GCSE, AS and A Level Geology.
• The length, number or format of exam papers will not change, except as necessary to accommodate specific changes to the exam and assessment arrangements
• A range of adjustments to assessment arrangements will be allowed in a number of subjects to accommodate potential public health requirements, for example, GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition, GCSE Physical Education, GCSE Music, AS and A Level Music.

* Further details on the announced changes for individual subjects and qualifications are available in an annex to the consultation documents. In total, changes will be made to 15 A Level subjects and 25 GCSEs.

A decision has not yet been taken about changes to the summer 2021 timetable. Discussions also continue around contingency measures for summer 2021 in case of further disruption.