GCSE Coursework vs Exam-Only Assessment: What Changed and Why It Matters

GCSE reform in 2017 moved most subjects to exam-only assessment in England, replacing or reducing coursework components. A small number of subjects — notably art, design, and some performance subjects — still include assessed non-exam components. Understanding the difference matters for revision planning, subject choice, and managing workload.

What changed in 2017?

Before the GCSE reforms introduced from 2017, many subjects included a significant controlled assessment or coursework component — work completed during the course, often under supervised conditions in school, which contributed a percentage of the final grade. For some subjects, coursework could account for 25%, 40%, or more of the total marks available.

The reforms, introduced by the government in England to align GCSE rigour with international standards, significantly reduced or removed these components in most subjects. The rationale was to increase examination reliability and reduce "teaching to the task" or the risk of unequal support across schools. For the large majority of GCSE subjects — including maths, English, all three sciences, history, geography, and modern languages — assessment is now entirely or almost entirely through written examinations sat at the end of Year 11.

This means a student's grade in most GCSEs reflects performance in examinations taken during the main May–June exam period at the end of Year 11, not work accumulated over two years.

Which GCSE subjects still have non-exam assessment?

A minority of subjects retain a non-exam assessment (NEA) component, typically where the skills being assessed cannot be meaningfully tested through a timed written examination. The main subjects with retained NEA components across the major exam boards include:

Subject | NEA type | Typical NEA weighting
Art and Design | Portfolio and final piece (10 hours) | 60% NEA + 40% written
Design and Technology | Coursework project | 50% NEA + 50% written
Music | Performance and composition | 60% NEA + 40% written
Drama / Performing Arts | Performance and scripted work | 40–60% NEA depending on board
Media Studies | Production component | 30–50% NEA depending on board
Physical Education (OCR, Edexcel) | Practical performance | 40% NEA (some boards)
Computer Science (some boards) | Programming project | 20% NEA (some boards)

The exact proportions vary by board. Parents and students should confirm the NEA weighting for their specific subject and exam board from the specification document, available directly from the relevant exam board.

Exam-only subjects: what this means for revision

For the large majority of subjects — maths, English language, English literature, biology, chemistry, physics, history, geography, French, Spanish, German, and Religious Studies — GCSE grade is determined entirely by examinations at the end of Year 11. There is no in-course mark to build up.

Implications for students:

All revision work is in preparation for timed written examination conditions

There is no partial credit available before exam day — a strong Year 10 cannot "bank" marks

Mock examinations during Year 10 and Year 11 are the most reliable practice tool

Past-paper technique — timing, command words, mark allocation — is crucial

For exam-only subjects, the most effective revision strategy typically involves:

Understanding the full specification (what topics can be examined)

Active recall and spaced retrieval practice, not passive re-reading

Extensive past-paper practice under timed conditions

Reviewing mark schemes to understand what examiners reward

NEA subjects: what this means for workload planning

For subjects with a non-exam assessment component, Year 10 and early Year 11 involve a different kind of work: projects, portfolios, performances, and practical tasks completed over weeks or months. These components typically have school-set deadlines during the course, well before the main exam period.

Implications for students taking NEA subjects:

NEA deadlines during Year 10 or early Year 11 compete with revision for other exam-only subjects

Work on the NEA cannot be fully compensated by strong examination performance — the two components are separately weighted

Quality of presentation, editing, and final submission in the NEA matters as much as content

Students taking multiple NEA subjects (e.g., Art, Drama, and DT) face significant concurrent coursework demands

Parents of students taking NEA subjects should monitor school-set deadlines carefully, as missed or rushed NEA submissions cannot be recovered from in the same way as exam performance can improve through intensive revision.

Does the absence of coursework disadvantage some students?

This is a genuinely contested question. Proponents of exam-only assessment argue it ensures consistency — every student's result reflects their performance under the same conditions, reducing the risk of unequal support across schools. Critics argue that some students perform better in sustained project work than in timed examinations, and that the move to exam-only assessment systematically disadvantages these learners.

The government's position has been that examinations are a more reliable measure of attainment. The evidence is mixed: the EEF's research suggests that extended written tasks and project work can develop higher-order thinking skills that timed examinations do not fully assess. Neither position is entirely right, and the debate continues to inform policy discussion.

Frequently asked questions

Is GCSE coursework the same as a NEA?

The term "coursework" is now largely replaced by "non-exam assessment" (NEA) in GCSE documentation, reflecting the fact that much of this assessed work is now completed under supervised conditions in school rather than independently at home. The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but NEA is the current formal terminology used by exam boards and Ofqual. The key characteristic is that it is marked work completed outside the main written exam series.

Can a student fail a GCSE due to not completing their NEA?

Yes, in NEA subjects. If a student does not submit a required non-exam assessment component, they cannot achieve a grade in that qualification. Some exam boards allow a student to submit a zero or incomplete NEA and still receive a grade based on their examination performance, but this is subject-specific and carries significant penalties. Students who miss NEA deadlines should contact their teacher immediately; in some cases the school can arrange an extension or alternative submission.

Does coursework still exist at A-level?

Yes. At A-level, non-exam assessment (coursework or independent research work) is more common than at GCSE, and in some subjects — English literature, history, and sciences — it forms a formal component of the qualification assessed by the exam board. The proportion varies by subject and board. Students who performed well in GCSE examination conditions but found coursework demanding (or vice versa) may find the A-level profile different.

How should a student prepare for GCSE exams if all their subjects are exam-only?

For exam-only subjects, the most effective preparation combines thorough knowledge of the specification (knowing what topics can appear), retrieval practice rather than passive re-reading, and extensive past-paper work in genuine timed conditions. Reviewing mark schemes after each past paper is as important as the paper itself — understanding what examiners reward clarifies how to structure answers effectively. Spaced revision across the full subject range, rather than last-minute cramming, produces better outcomes in timed examinations according to the available educational research.

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