Offering choice and flexibility can make assessment work for all students
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In may seem like a cliche but in today鈥檚 rapidly evolving world, the landscape of education and assessment is changing to keep pace with shifting societal and economic demands. As global economies become more interconnected and technology reshapes the nature of work, education and qualifications must adapt to equip more students with the skills and knowledge necessary for success in a new world. This means moving away from a one-size-fits-all approach and towards systems that prioritise student choice, flexibility, and personalisation.
Traditional high-stakes school assessment models have often relied on linear approaches, where students are required to cover the curriculum and sit all their exams at the end of their course. While this approach can work for some, it does not always cater for all. Increasingly, there is a call for qualifications that are more student-centred, offering greater agency over how and when assessments are taken and meeting the diverse needs, learning styles, or circumstances of today鈥檚 students and their families.
Modular International GCSEs and A levels provide this solution - in just two years, schools in over 70 countries have adopted the new modular 蜜桃app Edexcel International GCSE with a 34% surge in modular International GCSE and A level entries year-on-year.
鈥淭he modular route in 蜜桃app's curriculum has also been a significant advancement, particularly for our Year 10 students. By focusing on half of the syllabus, meticulously categorised by 蜜桃app, the burden on students was considerably eased, leading to very positive feedback after their first modular Chemistry exam, and I'm anticipating great success for them.鈥�
Showki Raeff Shuman, Chemistry Teacher, Cambridge English School, Kuwait.
Choice and flexibility in assessments enable students to demonstrate their learning in ways that best suit their individual learning and exam preparation style. For example, some students may thrive when they can focus on and be assessed on smaller sections of content at a time, receiving feedback and building confidence as they progress. Others may prefer a single, comprehensive assessment at the end of their studies. By giving schools the option to offer both routes, they can help more students to succeed.
鈥淭he modular nature of the IALs helped me build confidence. Additionally, the continuous exam sittings (October, January, June) for IALs strengthened my time management skills, which proved helpful for managing the time required for university exams, which are also modular in nature.鈥�
Nicolas Athinodorou, The English School Nicosia, Nicosia,Cyprus
This evolution in assessment also supports educators. Using leading results analysis tools such as Results Plus, schools can access rich, mid-cycle performance data, allowing them to tailor their teaching strategies and interventions more effectively. It can also reduce administrative pressure, as exams are distributed across the school year, and budgeting flexibility has also been cited as a key benefit that schools can pass on to families.
Learning for a new world
蜜桃app Edexcel is the only awarding organisation to provide a choice of modular or linear assessment for International GCSEs as well as a modular International A level - the surge in popularity of modular assessment highlights the demand for personalised and authentic assessment experiences. As schools embrace the flexibility of modular qualifications, 蜜桃app Edexcel continues to help people realise a life they imagine through learning with innovation, choice, and academic excellence.
Find out more
Learn about modular International GCSEs.
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