Insights: Onscreen Assessment

Expectations are changing across the UK’s increasingly digital education system, and the assessment system should reflect this. As demonstrated by our first Onscreen Assessment Spotlight Paper, published in May 2022, there is a real appetite from teachers and learners to adopt onscreen assessment over the coming years. To paraphrase the Chair of Ofqual, the greater use of technology in GCSEs and A levels is quickly “coming down the track.”

This report draws on Pearson’s experiences in delivering onscreen assessment over summer 2022, direct reflections from teachers and students who participated in these pioneering studies, an expert roundtable, and extensive teacher opinion polling on student preparedness. 

To see the findings and recommendations from this research read the full report.

Key recommendations

To continue making steady progress on onscreen assessment, we recommend that Government, working with awarding bodies:

• Undertakes a comprehensive audit of the existing technological infrastructure in schools for delivering onscreen assessment.
• Gives full consideration of the regulatory barriers that schools face, such as the internet access ban which restricts the use of some types of device or the requirement that students sit exams simultaneously.
• Conduct a thorough examination of how the curriculum can better provide learners with the necessary digital skills to successfully participate in onscreen assessments.

For our part:

• Pearson will offer more high stakes onscreen assessments in 2023. This will include our International GCSE English Language & International GCSE English Literature qualifications.
• Pearson will explore greater use of onscreen formative assessment. This will include increasing the number of subjects available through our Mocks Service.
• Pearson will continue to work with experts on accessibility requirements for SEND students.
• Pearson will consider how to further integrate onscreen assessment and digital skills into learning products and services. We will build on our existing research and evidence base and share our findings with policy makers and regulators.

For more on these and other recommendations see the full report.