GCSE English literature exam students to get choice of topics

STUDENTS taking GCSE English literature exams next summer will not have to cover all the topics as planned, due to lengthy school closures, England’s exams regulator has announced.

Ofqual has confirmed pupils will be offered a greater choice of subjects in exam papers for English literature, history and ancient history in 2021.

But school leaders have criticised the regulator’s decision not to offer optional questions in exams for the remaining GCSE and A-level subjects after students have faced months out of the classroom.

The watchdog, which launched a consultation on next year’s exams last month, has not yet made a decision on whether to delay the 2021 summer exams due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ofqual’s consultation originally proposed that there should not be any changes to the GCSE English literature assessment next year, but now the regulator has decided to offer a choice of topics following “significant concern” about the ability to cover all the required content in the time available.

All students will be assessed on a Shakespeare play, but can choose to answer from two of the three remaining content areas: poetry, 19th century novel, and post-1914 British fiction or drama. Ofqual also confirmed there would be a choice of topics on which students have to answer questions in GCSE history and ancient history.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “Regrettably, these plans are essentially a case of ‘too little, too late’. NAHT believes these proposals are unambitious, and do not go far enough.”