Revised assessment arrangements for GCSE computer science
will continue for the 2020 exam series, Ofqual announced
today (Friday 20 April).
At the start of this year, and following
consultation, we changed the
assessment arrangements for GCSE computer science. We
announced that, for students taking exams in 2018 or 2019,
their grades would be based on their exam performance
alone. We changed the arrangements because of evidence that
the confidentiality of at least some of the tasks required
by some of the exam boards had been compromised.
We are now advising teachers that the same arrangements
will stand for students who start studying the subject this
September and take their exams in 2020. They will be
formally assessed only by exam. These students must still
complete a task set by their respective exam board, but
this will not be formally marked.
Students may be given a choice of which non-exam task to
complete by their exam board. The tasks support the
curriculum requirements for the course, notably the
opportunity to develop the knowledge, understanding and
skills involved in programming. Schools and colleges must,
therefore, confirm to their exam board that they have set
aside the required amount of time for students to complete
a task and given them the opportunity to do so.
Teachers will be able to use the non-exam task to
consolidate students’ understanding and programming skills
in a practical context. While the exam boards might change
the conditions under which the task is completed and/or
give a greater prominence in their exam papers to questions
drawing on students’ programming experience, students’
grades will be based on their exam performance alone.
Sally Collier, Chief Regulator, said: “We want to give
teachers early notice of this decision so that that they
can begin preparations ahead of the summer. We hope that
this confirmation is helpful for schools and colleges in
planning for the next academic year.”
In our decision on the
assessment arrangements for 2018 and 2019 we
explained we would consider options for the longer-term
that would support the curriculum intentions and provide a
valid means of assessment. As well as considering the
feedback on longer term options we received in response to
our consultation, we are gathering more input and evidence
from stakeholders on this issue. We will also evaluate how
the new arrangements work in practice and consider how the
arrangement for GCSE computer science fits in with
the UK Digital
Strategy.
Later this year, we intend to invite computer science
teachers to provide feedback on the new arrangements and to
consult on any proposals for the longer term. This extended
timetable will allow us to consider a full range of
options.
