Several GCSE and A-level exams could be taken on screen from 2030

Several exams across GCSEs and A-levels could be taken on screens from the end of the decade under new proposals from the exams watchdog.

Proposals in a consultation launched by regulator Ofqual on Thursday could see some GCSE exams in smaller-entry subjects, including some languages and in any A-level exams except maths, move onto screens from around 2030.

Ofqual is asking for views on allowing each of the four exam boards to put forward two new specifications, each to involve assessment on screen rather than the traditional pen and paper.

If all of these were approved, it would mean a total of eight new GCSE, AS or A-level exams with at least some component assessed digitally.

Under the proposals, exam boards will not be able to put forward on-screen exams in subjects taken by more than 100,000 pupils in a year, which includes many of the main GCSE subjects, as well as A-level maths.

Ofqual chief regulator Sir Ian Bauckham told the Press Association: “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.”

The regulator is also proposing that devices to take exams on screen would need to be provided, rather than allowing students to use their own personal phones, laptops or tablets.

Letting pupils use their own devices would be unfair, Sir Ian said.

“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.

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.”

The subjects that would not be eligible for on-screen exams at this point include 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.

GCSE German had just over 32,000 entries in provisional Ofqual figures for 2025, and therefore would be eligible.

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 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 will have to ensure whatever platform is used to deliver any proposed on-screen exam meets certain criteria under Ofqual’s proposals.

The consultation for on-screen exams will run until March 5. Once it has concluded and the responses are analysed, a technical consultation would be run to put in place the assessment rules before exam boards can submit their potential qualifications.

If these are approved, the new specifications would ideally be in schools three years before the first exams happen, Ofqual said, meaning the end of the decade is a “minimum” timeline for the first exams using screens.

Currently, at least part of AQA’s A-level computer science exam, Pearson’s GCSE computer science exam, and WJEC’s GCSE computer science, geology and food preparation and nutrition exams are assessed digitally.

Last year, Sir Ian told the Press Association plans to introduce further on-screen exams should be treated with “extreme caution” until there is certainty that all schools can run assessments fairly.

Three of the major exam boards had laid out proposals to introduce on-screen assessments.

In 2023, AQA set out plans for GCSE Italian and Polish reading and listening components to move on screen by 2026, with hopes for at least one major subject to follow by 2030.

OCR had proposed a digitally assessed GCSE in computer science for pupils starting their course in 2025, and Pearson Edexcel planned to offer a choice to sit on-screen GCSE English exams from summer 2025.

All three of those proposals have been delayed.