Following earlier announcements on how GCSEs and A Levels will be awarded this year, Ofqual has now published a consultation seeking views on exams and assessments in 2021.

This consultation follows much recent debate about the impact of the closure of schools on students currently in years 10 and 12 who will be taking GCSEs or A Levels in summer 2021.

Key areas covered in the consultation include:

• Adaptations to free up teaching time: Proposals include removing the requirement for recording spoken language assessment in GCSE English Language, allowing observation as an alternative to undertaking practical science work, and assessing art and design students on their portfolio alone.
• Contingencies for future public health safeguards: Proposals relate to specific subjects affected by public health such as changes to performance rules in drama, and relaxing fieldwork requirements in A Level Geography.
• Sampling of subject content: Proposals for GCSE History and GCSE Ancient History include introducing a choice of topics on which students answer questions, with only one unit remaining mandatory. For GCSE Geography, the consultation proposes content relating to fieldwork should not be assessed. The DfE has confirmed there will be no similar content changes to GCSE English Language or Literature, GCSE Maths or GCSE sciences, or to any AS or A Level.
• Changes to the exam timetable: Proposals include starting GCSE exams after half term on 7 June 2021, a change of timetable for A Level and delaying issuing results.

In addition, Ofqual has also published a position paper on its intended approach for vocational and technical qualifications for summer 2021.

The deadline for responses to Ofqual’s consultation is 16 July 2020.