International Approaches to Exams Given the Pandemic
IAEA invites members and non members to share information about how they are handling their school-leaving or university entrance exams as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
International news
Education Bureau finds ‘inadequacies’ in development of history exams for Hong Kong
The report hinted at failings by the exams body, which had a quality control mechanism in place, but one that only functioned properly when all personnel carried out their duties…
GCSEs 2021 – Tests reveal ‘dramatic’ learning loss
The UK Association of School and College Leaders asked members for their insights into how much learning has been lost by Years 11 and 13 during the pandemic. Headteachers have…
OECD Webinar: Measuring the impacts of COVID-19 on education
Knowing that future progress may be at stake, countries are now trying to find ways to assess just what impact the crisis has had and how student learning experiences have…
SQA National 5 exams cancelled in Scotland for 2021 as Higher and Advanced Higher delayed
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament, Education Secretary John Swinney said: “Pupils have already lost a significant amount of learning time because of coronavirus. My priority is to ensure…
Judge bars University of California from all use of SAT, ACT scores in admissions
The University of California, which has already stopped requiring applicants to take the SAT or ACT, must go further and prohibit campuses from allowing prospective students to submit their scores,…
The beginning of the end of our obsession with standardized tests
America has been obsessed with student standardized tests for nearly 20 years. Now it looks like the country is at the beginning of the end of our high-stakes testing mania…
Without English testing, study abroad cannot resume
On 26 May, for the fifth consecutive month, the Chinese National Education Examinations Authority and the British Council announced the cancellation of IELTS tests scheduled for June. Prospective international students…
Exams are fundamentally flawed – let’s try something new
Increasing numbers of qualifications are offered in a format that would be familiar to anyone who has participated in organisations such as Scouts, Guides or Boys’ Brigade: badges. These are awarded…
Next year’s school exams in Scotland may be scrapped due to Covid-19 pandemic
Education Secretary John Swinney is unable to rule out next year’s school exams being cancelled due to Covid-19 but he confirmed pupils going back in a blended learning model on…