Ofqual is consulting on how the programming skills of students taking GCSE Computer Science should be assessed.

Earlier this year, the assessment arrangements for GCSE Computer Science changed because of evidence that the confidentiality of some of the programming tasks had been compromised. These revised arrangements meant that for students taking exams in 2019 and 2020, their GCSE Computer Science grades will be based on their exam performance alone.

The new consultation proposes that the current short-term arrangements remain in place for students sitting exams in this subject in 2021, and that for students taking their exams in 2022:

• All assessment, including that of programming skills, is conducted by exam
• The assessments will require students to complete the four steps of designing, writing, testing and refining a program to achieve a task or solve a problem as separate or combined activities
• The original assessment objective weightings for this qualification are reinstated, to reflect the importance of practical programming skills.

Ofqual says it is keen to encourage innovation and proposes giving exam boards discretion over the form of exam assessment on offer.

Further information for centres is available on the OCR website.