Minister considers scrapping AS-level exams in major overhaul

THERE could soon be major changes to the way exams are run in the North, with Education Minister Paul Givan considering scrapping AS-levels amid concerns that pupils are being “over-tested.”

The Department of Education (DE) is reviewing qualifications in a move that could see the end of AS-levels and a return to a traditional two-year A-level course. Under the proposed system, students would sit all their A-level exams at the end of the two years, with those results determining their final grade.

This is one of several proposals included in a consultation launched by the DE. The review focuses on qualifications overseen by the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).

Currently, students take AS-level exams midway through their A-level studies, with the results contributing 40% to their overall A-level grade. In England, AS-levels were separated from A-levels in 2017, meaning AS results no longer counted towards final grades.

The public consultation on potential changes to GCSEs, AS, and A-levels will remain open until November 13.

Other proposed reforms include reducing the number of topics studied at both GCSE and A-level and removing most controlled or practical assessments completed in school. The aim is to simplify the system and limit the number of exams to a maximum of two per subject at both GCSE and A-level.

The department is also proposing a shift from the current letter-based grading system for GCSEs to a numerical scale, in line with the system used in England.

Speaking to the BBC about the proposed changes, Education Minister Paul Givan said, “I believe that our young people are being over-tested.

“So much time is being spent in preparation for exams, time off school for mocks, and coaching on exam technique. All of that takes away from the ability to actually sit in the class, engage in the subject matter, and learn about it.”