Some GCSEs and A-levels in England could be taken on laptops by 2030, Ofqual says

"Under the proposals, each of the four main exam boards will be invited to draw up two new onscreen exam specifications, targeting subjects with fewer than 100,000 entries. GCSE maths would therefore not be eligible but GCSE German would. Already there are concerns about fair access to devices, cybersecurity and the potential for technical failure. Other issues include space requirements and larger desks to accommodate computers."

"Sir Ian Bauckham, the chief regulator at Ofqual, said he was definitely not gung-ho about a shift to online assessment. The regulator insisted pen and paper would remain central to assessment in English schools and traditional GCSE and A-level exams would not disappear. We must maintain the standards and fairness that define England's qualifications system, Bauckham said. Any introduction of onscreen exams must be carefully managed to protect all students' interests, and these proposals set out a controlled approach with rigorous safeguards."

"Teachers say pupils who habitually use keyboards have lost handwriting stamina. You do hear people say: I don't handwrite very much so my handwriting is poor' or I feel I can't hold the pen for long enough' or My hand muscles are not strong enough', Bauckham said. On the other hand, you also hear counter-views that say actually, part of cognitive development is strongly associated with the actual mechanical process of handwriting, which is not the same"

Ofqual plans a controlled rollout of onscreen assessments for some GCSE and A-level subjects, focusing on those with fewer than 100,000 entries and inviting exam boards to develop specifications. A three-month public consultation will precede any implementation. Schools would offer separate onscreen and paper qualifications, and students would not be allowed to use personal devices. Key concerns include fair access to devices, cybersecurity, technical failures, and space and furniture needs. The regulator affirmed that pen-and-paper exams will remain central and emphasized the need to protect standards and fairness. Teachers report reduced handwriting stamina while others stress handwriting's cognitive role.

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