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The department reformed and strengthened GCSEs and A levels from 2011 to be in line with the highest performing education systems. The department consulted widely with schools, colleges, universities and employers, both on the principles for reform and the detail of the content of individual subjects, to help them prepare for their introduction. There are no current plans for wholesale GCSE and A level reform.<\/p>
The government believes exams are the best and fairest way of judging students\u2019 performance as they provide a standardised means of assessment, with all students being examined on the same basic level of difficulty and understanding. Exams provide an even playing field with everyone being assessed on the same thing in the same amount of time. Following the difficulties experienced with awarding grades without exams in 2020 and 2021, the government is fully committed to exams going ahead this summer.<\/p>
The independent qualifications regulator, Ofqual, advised that non-exam assessment (NEA) should only be used when it is the only valid way to assess essential elements of the subject. For example, NEA is still required in modern foreign languages (the speaking assessment) and in art and design.<\/p>
Fair and meaningful grading is core to confidence in qualifications. Ofqual are responsible for maintaining qualification standards and doing so in a way that ensures public confidence.<\/p>
Ofqual\u2019s rules will require exam boards to use a range of qualitative and quantitative evidence so that grade boundaries are set in a way that is as fair as possible for all students, across all subjects and exam boards. Grading is monitored by the experts every step of the way and Ofqual will review results for every subject before they are issued.<\/p>