Pupils may be given advance notice of exam topics, crib sheets in 2022 under proposals

Students sitting their exams next summer could also be provided with aids, such as formula sheets, when taking tests.
PA Wire

Teenagers taking exams next year could be given advance notice of what topics will come up and be allowed to take crib sheets into the exam hall, it was revealed on Monday.

The proposals were announced by the department for education as it launched a consultation into how GCSE and A-Levels should be changed to take into account the effect of the pandemic on pupils’ learning.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said exams will take place next year because they are the fairest way to assess students. They have been cancelled for two years due to the coronavirus and grades this year have been decided on by teachers.

But changes will be made to next year’s exams to ensure they are fair. Under the plans schools could be given some choice about the topics their students will be assessed on in GCSE English literature, history, ancient history and geography.

Advance information about the focus of exam content may be provided to help students focus their revision, and formulae sheets could be allowed in GCSE maths exams and equations sheets in GCSE physics exams

Mr Williamson said: “Exams will always be the fairest way to assess students, which is why they will take place next year, but it’s right that next summer’s arrangements take into account the disruption young people have faced over the past 18 months.”

Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said the consultation has come too late, and accused the government of being “way behind the curve” when it comes to the impact of the pandemic on education.

He said: “In reality, all of this should have been put to bed weeks, if not months, ago. We are only days away from the end of term. School leaders wanted decisions for adaptations and contingencies made before the summer break, with details before the start of term in September, not least because August will be a busy month supporting students with their results and working on reviews and appeals.”

Julie McCulloch, Director of Policy at the Association of School and College Leaders, said: “Giving advance notice of the subject areas that will be examined in 2022 should allow students to focus their studies and reduce the risk that they will face questions on subjects they haven’t studied in sufficient depth because of the disruption caused by the pandemic.

“The key question is when this advance notice should be given. The proposal in this consultation is that this should happen in the spring term next year.

“There will be mixed views on this. Some school and college leaders will feel this is too late and that advance notice should be given earlier because students have been so badly affected and need this time. Others will feel this is the right decision in order to keep learning as broad as possible during the autumn term and avoid narrowing of the curriculum.”

The consultation will end on August 1. The government said it is also working on contingency plans if it is not possible for exams to go ahead for a third year.

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