Bold claim: Northern Ireland is about to overhaul its core qualifications, scrapping AS-Levels while reshaping A-Levels and GCSEs to ease the student workload. But here’s where it gets controversial: the plan isn’t to remove exams entirely, just to reframe when and how they’re taken, and to reduce assessment burden across the board. This guide explains what’s changing, why it matters, and how it could affect students, educators, and schools.
Summary of the plan
- AS-Levels will be removed in Northern Ireland as part of a broad review of GCSE, AS, and A-Level qualifications. Students will still have the option to take qualifications aligned with English and Welsh boards.
- A new two-year modular A-Level structure will be introduced, consisting of three distinct topics or exam sets.
- Most GCSEs will be assessed at the end of the two-year course, with typically two exam papers per subject. Some subjects will see exams occur at different points during the course, notably English Language, Mathematics, and certain Science GCSEs.
- The revised A-Level system will be taught from 2029 onward, and the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) will no longer offer a standalone AS-Level after the change.
- The A-Level assessment will be split: exams at the end of Year 13 will count for 30% of the final grade, while end-of-Year 14 exams will account for 70%.
- Coursework and controlled assessments will be reduced in both GCSE and A-Level, used only when essential (for example, practical science work).
Why this change is happening
- Education Minister Paul Givan has argued that current arrangements over-test NI pupils and that the reforms aim to reduce stress, broaden learning, and keep qualifications relevant.
- The TransformED program sits at the heart of these changes, seeking to overhaul curriculum content, assessment methods, and qualification structures in Northern Ireland.
- A recent public consultation showed limited support for fully linear A-Levels with all exams at the end of Year 14, prompting a compromise that includes some mid-course exams.
What stays the same or varies by region
- Students in Northern Ireland can still pursue AS-Levels or other qualifications set by English and Welsh boards if they prefer. England already stopped counting AS-Level results toward A-Level grades in 2017, a point of reference echoed in NI’s reforms.
- Grade scales: NI will retain the A*–G GCSE grading scheme, rather than aligning with England’s 9–1 scale.
- Some GCSEs will reduce topic breadth to deepen learning per subject, while others will maintain broader content with lighter assessment loads.
Potential impacts and concerns
- Proponents argue the reforms will reduce exam pressure, shift focus toward understanding and mastery, and address workload and equity issues—especially as AI tools influence take-home tasks.
- Critics worry about increased stress from compressed assessment windows and the risk of uneven preparation if modules or mid-course exams aren’t well aligned.
- A key point of debate is how the two-year A-Level modular approach will affect students’ confidence, subject choice, and readiness for higher education or work.
Practical timeline
- The full changes are not implemented until September 2029, allowing time for schools to adjust, staff to train, and students to adapt.
- In the interim, the NI exams board (CCEA) will roll out the new two-year A-Level framework and adjust GCSE delivery in line with the reforms.
Discussion prompts
- Do you agree that reducing the number of high-stakes final exams improves learning and wellbeing, or do you worry it could weaken subject mastery if not designed carefully?
- Is a mid-course assessment in Year 13 valuable for feedback and progression, or could it undermine the motivation to complete the full two-year course?
- How should schools balance coursework with practical work in science as AI becomes more capable at producing written assignments?
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