NEA update for 2020/2021

Introduction

The exams regulator OFQUAL has published the outcome of its consultation on how GCSEs and A-levels will be assessed in 2021. A-level geography students will still have to complete a non-exam assessment, but exam boards will be expected to be “flexible in their requirements for the use of primary data and, at all levels, to emphasise to centres that they should complete as much fieldwork as possible, including by remote or virtual means”.

The requirement for centres to make a declaration confirming they provided all students with the opportunity to undertake a mandated number of days of fieldwork in GCSE, AS and A level geography is removed. GCSE and AS exam questions should not relate to students’ own fieldwork experiences, but questions relating to fieldwork in an unfamiliar context would still be set. In the AS exams students will not be required to cover both human and physical geography fieldwork.

No decision has been made on one of the consultation’s key questions – whether to delay NEA deadlines or exams until later in the summer – with Ofqual saying it needs more time to “undertake a further analysis of the options, the risks and the mitigations”.

To read Steve Durman's full article which includes advice to students and teachers along with lots of useful links and references, click the icon below.