GCSEs and A levels: Welsh Government’s plan for assessments 2021

16/12/2020

Education Minister Kirsty Williams has today provided further details on how the system put in place to replace exams for GCSEs and AS/A levels in 2021 will work.

Having received proposals from the Design and Delivery Advisory Group, the Minister has confirmed that, where relevant,  assessment in Wales will be made up of:

• Non-examination assessments - details available in NEA information booklet
• Internal assessments
• Externally set and marked assessments

You can read the Minister’s full announcement here. Please note this announcement does not impact Eduqas GCSE, AS and A level qualifications.

Following the Welsh Government’s announcement, Ian Morgan, Chief Executive, WJEC, commented:

At WJEC, we’re focused on providing schools and colleges with a detailed package of information, guidance and support to help teachers as they plan and prepare their students for GCSE and AS/A level assessments in 2021.’

'Our subject specialists and support teams will be ready to share further details on qualification structures and assessment arrangements in early January.'

'The Design and Delivery Advisory Group’s recommendation also means that, as far as possible, teachers and learners can be reassured that they will be able to rely on familiar, pre-existing, materials to support their learning and assessment during these challenging times.'

'This has been a year like no other, and we are committed to working with the Design and Delivery Advisory Group, and in collaboration with the wider education community, to ensure that Wales’ learners are given every opportunity to show what they know, understand, and can do in 2021,’ he added.