The examination system through which sixteen and eighteen-year-olds in England are assessed has been relatively stable since Michael Gove's reform programme of 2010–15. A new wave of changes — building on that foundation but introducing significant modifications — is now being implemented.
GCSE Changes
The most significant GCSE change affects grading and moderation. Coursework elements, which were substantially reduced in the Gove reforms, will increase in several subjects following evidence that the heavily exam-based approach disadvantages students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The grade 9 — introduced in 2017 as a distinction above the old A* — will be awarded more sparingly, reversing grade inflation that has seen record proportions of students achieving 9s in recent years.
A-Level Changes
The removal of AS levels as a standalone qualification — already completed — is being followed by a narrower reform: increasing minimum content requirements in English Literature and History to include broader chronological and geographical coverage.
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) — an independent research project that universities regard favourably — is being encouraged through UCAS tariff changes that make it more attractive to students.
What Universities Are Asking For
The most significant shift in A-level context is the growing use of contextual admissions by selective universities. This means that grades are increasingly interpreted in the context of a student's school and socioeconomic background — making the headline grade less determinative than it once was.
