An exam board is to offer a digitally-assessed GCSE in computer science for pupils starting their course in 2025, in what it described as a UK first.
Jill Duffy, chief executive of OCR, said a pilot of digital exams earlier this year had “shown that digital exams work”.
The exam board said schools can still opt for a paper-based assessment for the OCR computer science qualification if they prefer that approach or do not have the digital infrastructure in place.
Ms Duffy said “other subjects will follow” computer science in offering on-screen assessment, with all of them – including computer science – subject to regulatory approval by Ofqual.
“We’re talking to students and teachers right now to make this work,” she said.
“It’s striking how readily students and teachers have taken to digital mock exams.
“Our pilots show that digital exams are quicker, more suited to how students learn, more sustainable and great learning tools.
“Digital assessment is not a hypothetical future, it’s happening now.”
She said OCR’s pilot of digital exams showed students “appreciate being able to type rather than handwrite their answers, seeing wordcounts and timers as they progress”.
