Assessment methods for GCSE and A level

Assessment methods for for GCSE and A level in the summer of 2021.

A great deal of private candidates struggle with the guidance for the range of methods that have replaced the exams. The faster they scrap the exam boards for the future and stream line the whole thing the better for private candidates/

Here are just some notes on the assessement methos

Support materials, in particular mark schemes and grade boundary data are aligned to whole papers. This is called the Common Assessment.

Note:

Common Assessments will not be a timetabled assessment. This is to maximise flexibility and to minimise challenge around “replacing exams with exams”.

While test windows means confidentiality can be lost the moment the window opens, and windows would have to be reasonably lengthy to provide flexibility.

JCQ recommend teachers have flexibility as to when students undertake Common Assessments.

This will also allow students remote access, if, for example, teachers set a Common Assessment as part of an online Zoom lesson.

Supplementary support materials will include:

• mark schemes;
• grade boundaries;
• standardisation materials where available;
• exemplar materials;
• archive scripts;
• performance and grade descriptions – could be of use in some subjects (e.g. Maths and Science) but less so in others; o data by question level; and o modified question papers