GCSE, AS and A level reform: regulations for engineering and design and technology
Applies to England
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
In response to consultation feedback, we have made changes to our approach to assessing mathematical skills in new engineering GCSEs, and in new design and technology GCSEs, AS and A levels. We have also made some changes to the arrangements for non-exam assessment in AS design and technology to reduce the risk of overly predictable assessments.
We have now published final versions of our:
- GCSE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for Engineering
- GCSE Subject Level Guidance for Engineering
- GCSE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for Design and Technology
- GCSE Subject Level Guidance for Design and Technology
- GCE Subject Level Conditions and Requirements for Design and Technology
- GCE Subject Level Guidance for Design and Technology
GCSE engineering
Our new rules will require reformed GCSEs in engineering to:
- comply with the Department for Education鈥檚 subject content for GCSE engineering, and our assessment objectives
- include a single non-exam assessment task (weighted at 40% of total marks) which tests students鈥� practical engineering skills by requiring them to produce an engineered product from a set brief
- allocate 20% of exam marks to assessing mathematical skills
Our guidance explains:
- how to interpret our assessment objectives
GCSE design and technology
Our new rules will require reformed GCSEs in design and technology to:
- comply with the Department for Education鈥檚 subject content for GCSE design and technology, and our assessment objectives
- include a single non-exam assessment task (weighted at 50% of total marks) which tests students鈥� designing and making skills in response to a contextual challenge
- allocate 15% of exam marks to assessing mathematical skills
Our guidance explains:
- how to interpret our assessment objectives
AS and A level design and technology
Our new rules will require reformed AS and A levels in design and technology to:
- comply with the Department for Education鈥檚 subject content for AS and A level design and technology, and our assessment objectives
- at AS, include a single non-exam assessment task (weighted at 50% of total marks) which tests students鈥� designing and making skills in response to a contextual challenge
- at A level, include a single non-exam assessment task (weighted at 50% of total marks) which tests students鈥� designing and making skills in a more substantial, self-directed, task
- allocate 25% of exam marks to assessing mathematical skills in the 鈥榙esign engineering鈥� option
- allocate 15% of exam marks to assessing mathematical skills in all other options
Our guidance explains:
- how to interpret our assessment objectives
Original consultation
Consultation description
This consultation is about the rules and guidance we plan to put in place for new GCSEs in astronomy. These rules will apply to the following new GCSEs, AS and A levels that will be taught in schools in England from September 2017:
- GCSE design and technology
- GCSE engineering
- AS and A level design and technology
This consultation takes forward decisions made following our earlier consultation 鈥�Development of new GCSEs and A levels for teaching from 2017鈥�, and is part of Ofqual鈥檚 work supporting the government鈥檚 changes to GCSEs, AS and A levels.
Documents
Updates to this page
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Published consultation outcome
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First published.