Some GCSE And A-Level Exams Could Be Taken On Laptops By 2030

GCSE and A-level exams could be taken on laptops as early as 2030, after students complained of writing fatigue because their hand muscles ‘aren’t strong enough’.

Exams watchdog, Ofqual, is launching a three-month public consultation about the intro of on-screen assessments as teachers say students who habitually use keyboards have ‘lost handwriting stamina’.

Under the recommendations, exam boards will not be able to put forward on-screen exams in subjects taken by more than 100,000 pupils in a year.

This means some GCSE exams in smaller-entry subjects, including some languages and in any A-level exams except maths, could move onto screens from around 2030.

Speaking to the Guardian, Ofqual chief regulator Sir Ian Bauckham said: ‘You do hear people say: “I don’t handwrite very much so my handwriting is poor” or “I feel I can’t hold the pen for long enough” or “My hand muscles are not strong enough.”

Under the proposals, Ofqual will ask four exam boards to put forward two new specifications, each to include an on-screen assessment component rather than the traditional pen and paper. 

So if accepted, a total of eight new GCSE, AS or A-level exams with at least one component assessed digitally could be in place by as early as 2030.

Since schools are required to supply the infrastructure for the proposed changes, questions have been raised regarding the fairness of the new proposals, given the disparities in the technology capabilities of schools across the nation.

While the regulator will prohibit students from using their own personal phones, laptops, or tablets, concerns about cybersecurity risks and the possibility of technical failure have also been voiced.

‘If any more on-screen assessment is going to happen, it needs to be done in a way which is managed and in the interests of students, commands public confidence and is deliverable, importantly, for schools and colleges,’ said Sir Bauckham.

‘Letting pupils use their own devices would be unfair.

‘You’d have some that had state-of-the-art, fancy Apple Macs, and you’d have some that would have very slow, potentially vulnerable devices,’ he added.

A-level and GCSE maths, as well as GCSE English language, literature, combined science, biology, chemistry, physics, history, geography, religious studies, French, Spanish, and business, are currently ineligible for on-screen exams.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: ‘Technology is at the forefront of this Government’s mission to spread opportunity and modernise our education system.

‘We know interest in on-screen exams is growing, and aligning assessment with an increasingly digital world could bring valuable benefits, including for children with SEND.

‘But it’s also important that any shift is phased, controlled and above all, fair. We will continue to work closely with Ofqual and the wider sector to make sure we protect the high standards and integrity of our exam system and retain the confidence of schools, families and employers.’

Exam boards can submit their potential qualifications after the consultation for on-screen exams closes on March 5.

If approved, the new specifications would ideally be in schools three years before the first exams happen, meaning the first exams could take place in 2030.

Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: ‘We’re really pleased that Ofqual is exploring the potential for on-screen assessment in the future, as there are several possible benefits to utilising digital technology for exams.

‘This would represent a significant change, with many practical issues, and a measured approach is the right way to proceed.’

Exam boards have previously tried to introduce on-screen assessments, but to no avail.

What on earth are these kids going to do if they’re required to do a job which requires some form of manual labour?

It does, however, make you giggle. These children have no problem holding a cell phone for extended periods of time, yet they struggle to write with a pen, and there won’t be much manual labour being executed by humans in the end; it will all be done by AI. All there will be are a load of influencers or people on benefits. They don’t seem to have enough mental motivation to enable them to work.

Not only that, if these kids are not permitted to do their exams on their own laptops, it would mean that funds would have to go into purchasing new laptops for pupils; it would cost millions of pounds to do this, which I’m guessing the taxpayer will have to fork out for.