Bold shift in Northern Ireland exams is on the horizon, and it’s stirring debate. The current AS-Level structure, where AS-Levels in each subject are taken midway through the A-Level course and count for 40% of the final grade, is being replaced by a two-year modular A-Level system. Under the plan, AS-Levels will be scrapped entirely, with three distinct topics or exam sets across the two-year course. The AS label will disappear, but students may still sit some tests at the end of Year 13. Full implementation is slated for September 2029.
Most GCSEs will also move to end-of-course exams, typically limited to two papers per subject. In Wales, AS-Level exams still exist and feed into final A-Level grades, though a review is underway, while Scotland operates a different system. Northern Ireland pupils will retain the option to take qualifications set by English and Welsh exam boards, including AS-Levels.
Education Minister Paul Givan argues the reforms will reduce the exam load and give learners more time to explore, understand, and enjoy learning. The changes apply to qualifications run by the Northern Ireland exams board, the Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA).
Key changes for AS and A-Levels
- A new two-year modular A-Level will feature three separate topics or exams.
- Students can take all exams at the end of Year 14, or take one of the three sets at the end of Year 13.
- The Year 13 exam will account for 30% of the final A-Level grade, while Year 14 exams will make up 70%.
- These adjustments come after ministerial revisions to earlier proposals that would have required all A-Level exams to be completed at the end of the two-year course.
GCSE changes include
- Most GCSEs will be linear with end-of-course exams determining the grade, though English Language, Mathematics, and Science syllabi will allow some assessments during the course.
- The A*–G grading system will be retained in Northern Ireland, diverging from England’s 9–1 scale.
- Some GCSEs will narrow topics to enable deeper, more focused study.
- Coursework will be reduced across GCSEs and A-Levels, used only where essential (for example, practical science experiments).
Why these reforms?
Minister Givan has argued that Northern Ireland students have been over-tested. The TransformED initiative aims to reform curriculum, assessment, and qualifications to make learning more meaningful. The goal is to shift emphasis from frequent testing to deeper understanding and to reduce workload pressures and inequities, while also addressing the impact of AI on take-home tasks.
Reactions and controversy
Sinn Féin’s Pat Sheehan criticized the reforms, suggesting the minister is repackaging proposals that already faced strong public pushback. He pointed out that the original plan to scrap AS-Levels was broadly opposed by students, parents, and teachers, and warned that moving most GCSEs to end-of-course exams and cutting coursework could raise concerns.
Minister Givan defended the approach, noting that the consultation did not mandate a fully linear system and that the revised plan preserves some flexibility. He emphasized that learning, not excessive testing, should be at the heart of education and highlighted the reduced emphasis on coursework to alleviate workload and adapt to AI-assisted work.
Bottom line: these are the most significant qualifications reforms in Northern Ireland in a generation. The minister shifted course in response to public sentiment, allowing some A-Level exams to occur midway through the course, while also citing AI concerns as a reason to curtail coursework. The debate continues: will these changes improve learning and reduce stress, or shift the goalposts in ways that create new challenges for students, teachers, and schools? Would you lean toward preserving more traditional exam milestones or embracing modular end-to-end assessment? Share your thoughts in the comments.
