The hours of work, the sleepless nights and the forsaken socialising – all necessary sacrifices that would be worth it in the end.
But a few weeks ago, as I listened to the younger students of my school being told off by an invigilator for shouting outside the exam room, I remembered I was part of one of the last cohorts to go through this excessive stress.
Being one of the first in the country to do so, my school will be moving away from the annual national exams.
Beginning with the 2027 cohort, the school will adopt a bespoke curriculum consisting of courses ranging from traditional academic subjects to modern areas such as AI, that will be assessed more dynamically.
And students will be offered bridging courses – targeted programs or preparatory assignments designed to help them transition to a higher educational level – helping make the jump to A-levels less difficult.
As someone who found the jump up to GCSEs very challenging, and has been assured that the jump to A-levels will be no easier, I am glad that this new system will exist to help those younger than me have a smoother transition.
Even Lord Kenneth Baker – the politician who introduced GCSEs into British culture – has recanted his view, now calling the exams ‘Edwardian’ and stipulating that they have ‘run their course’.
This is not unjustified – the system has been in place, and broadly unchanged, for 40 years. It’s surreal to think my mum has sat the same set of exams as me.
But the main justification for this decision is perhaps the most obvious. A study from University College London found that exam stress at 15 can increase the risk of depression and self-harm in early adulthood.
Unsurprisingly, the high stakes and crushing workload of standardised testing significantly impact the mental health of students. In a time where so much light is shed on mental health, it seems foolish to ignore such a major factor.
Personally, I can vividly remember my experience before my first exam. Many weeks’ anticipation culminated in a single moment when I struggled to eat my jam on toast that morning. I felt sick with nerves.
It simply seems unfair to place so much of childrens’ futures on a single day. A test can not be truly indicative of 2 years of work.