Pupils in England could be sitting digital GCSE exams by 2026, according to proposals put forward by AQA, the largest exam board for GCSEs and A-levels in England. The exam board aims to gradually introduce on-screen exams and hopes that by 2030, students will be taking at least one major subject digitally. The first subjects to move to digital exams in 2026 would be GCSE Italian and Polish, subject to regulatory approval. Initially, the digital exams would largely mirror the existing paper exams, but there is potential for more innovative and interactive assessment methods in the future.
AQA’s report highlights several benefits of digital exams. Firstly, they help prepare young people for the digital world and develop their digital skills. Secondly, digital exams are more inclusive, ensuring that all students can access and engage with the assessment materials in a way that suits them best. Additionally, digital exams are seen as more environmentally sustainable, as they reduce the need for printed exam papers.
Colin Hughes, the Chief Executive of AQA, explains that the transition to digital exams will be a gradual process: “We cannot and should not change the way we conduct exams overnight. AQA has spent several years trialling and piloting digital exams, and we will roll them out over many years. Our ambition is that students will sit a large-entry subject digitally by 2030.”
In the proposed digital exams, students will be required to use their own devices, which will be offline in the exam hall, preventing them from accessing the internet or AI tools. This ensures a level playing field and maintains the integrity of the assessment process. The exams will continue to have both digital and traditional paper-based components, reflecting a combination of teaching and assessment methods.
AQA’s plans come after years of piloting digital exams, and they are not alone in exploring this transition. The OCR exam board also piloted digital exams in UK schools earlier this year. The Department for Education (DfE) has also expressed interest in exploring digital solutions for exams and is open to adopting on-screen assessment methods to make the assessment process more innovative and less burdensome.
Tom Middlehurst from the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) sees the move towards digital exams as a step in the right direction, stating, “Our current system is becoming increasingly outdated, and at GCSE, results in students taking a vast number of terminal pen-and-paper exams.” However, Middlehurst emphasizes the importance of providing equal access to educational technology for all students, to avoid exacerbating the disadvantage gap.
As the education system continues to evolve, digital exams offer a way to modernize the assessment process and better align it with the digital skills that students will need in the future. With careful planning and investment in educational technology, digital exams can provide a more inclusive, sustainable, and innovative approach to assessment. AQA’s proposals mark an exciting step forward in this ongoing journey of educational transformation.
Use the share button below if you liked it.