By Gavin Mackintosh-
An exam board has announced plans to introduce a digitally assessed GCSE in computer science for students starting their courses in 2025, marking a significant shift in the way exams are conducted.
Jill Duffy, Chief Executive of OCR, hailed the success of the pilot digital exams conducted earlier this year, stating that “digital exams work.” The move towards digital assessment is considered a UK first, with the aim of making exams more efficient, suited to students’ learning styles, and environmentally sustainable.
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The OCR computer science qualification will allow schools to choose between digital and paper-based assessments, depending on their preferences or digital infrastructure availability. The initiative is set to be expanded to other subjects, contingent on regulatory approval by Ofqual.
“We’re talking to students and teachers right now to make this work,” said Ms. Duffy. “Digital assessment is not a hypothetical future; it’s happening now.”
Computer science GCSE exam last summer was one of the most difficult of the subjects, with many pupils complaining of how hard it was, and the grade boundaries shifted a bit more for that subject.
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Digital exams offer advantages such as quicker assessments, improved clarity in the marking process, and an experience closer to real industry practices. The pilot programs have shown that students appreciate the ability to type answers, view word counts, and have timers during exams.
In the 2023 academic year, 88,350 students took the computer science GCSE, reflecting a 12% year-on-year increase. The move to digital assessments is expected to enhance the overall learning experience for students.
Computer scientist Professor Simon Peyton Jones, engineering fellow at Epic Games, expressed delight at OCR offering the digital exam, emphasizing that it brings assessments closer to the real world and allows students to demonstrate their capabilities more authentically.
Tom Middlehurst, assessment specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, welcomed the shift towards digital assessment, seeing it as a step away from traditional pen-and-paper exams. “This clearly makes perfect sense for computer science GCSE but also paves the way for other subjects,” he remarked.
As the education landscape embraces digital transformation, the move towards digitally assessed exams is seen as a significant leap forward, offering students a more authentic and relevant testing experience.
The shift aligns with global trends, with other exam boards like Cambridge International and AQA also exploring on-screen assessment options.
The Department for Education emphasized that any move to on-screen components would undergo regulatory scrutiny before implementation, ensuring the continued delivery of a world-class education through digital solutions.
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