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Original poster

When (and why) did exams get shorter?

37 replies

DorotheaDiamond · 31/12/2022 23:52

Back in the dark ages I did O levels when all exams were 2.5 hours plus (I found my maths paper and it was 2 2.5 hour papers and I remember the rest being the same). A levels were 3 hours.

Now GCSE maths papers are 2 lots of 90 mins, and A levels seem to be 2 or 2.5 hours.

when did they change and why?

OP posts:
lanthanum · 01/01/2023 09:39

Timetabling (particularly) with extra time is much easier with shorter exams. The school day tends to finish slightly earlier now, and so a 2.5 hour exam with extra time might mean missing the school bus home.

One big advantage of two shorter papers over one longer one is that if someone is ill, they may still be able to get a grade on the basis of one paper. This was exploited further last year when they separated the papers by about 10 days in each subject, in the hope that very few people would miss both, even if covid was rife.

It's also possible, in the event of exam clashes, to squeeze three shorter papers into a day, getting rid of any need for overnight "quarantine".

Shadowboy · 01/01/2023 09:19

I teach three A level subjects:
geography has 3 papers: all three are 2h15 so 6h 45 min
geology has 3 papers varying lengths but total 6 hours 15 min
environmental science has 2 papers three hours each. Total of 6 hours.

abitsharp · 01/01/2023 09:08

Yes exactly @Piggywaspushed it is not unusual for y11 students to do 30+ exams in May/June of y11. It's a punishing schedule.

Piggywaspushed · 01/01/2023 07:33

Students do way more exams (and more subjects) these days so many many many more hours in total. It's actually crucifying.

It was Tory Ed Sec way back when ASs were a thing who restricted the length of individual exams . I forget who.

TeenDivided · 01/01/2023 07:31

A levels are 2 years later, again with only the top slice of pupils sitting them.
GCSEs are meant to be accessible to all abilities. They aren't really these days since reform imo, but they are meant to be.

abitsharp · 01/01/2023 07:31

It is different for different subjects.

The a level I currently teach has two exams. one is 2 hours 30 mins and the other one is 3 hours.

determinedtomakethiswork · 01/01/2023 07:27

TeenDivided · 01/01/2023 07:18

I wish someone would tell the English Language exam setters that exams are meant to have got shorter.

(Plus, it's not true that all O levels were 2.5hrs plus. Last time this came up I checked my 1982 papers.)

A-level papers were, though.

TeenDivided · 01/01/2023 07:21

A slightly more serious answers. O levels were done by the 'top' children only. How long were CSEs?
It is probably harder on average for lower ability to focus that long. My DD was certainly exhausted by around 90-120 mins which means we have a balance between extra time for slow processing and exhaustion for trying so hard.

TeenDivided · 01/01/2023 07:18

I wish someone would tell the English Language exam setters that exams are meant to have got shorter.

(Plus, it's not true that all O levels were 2.5hrs plus. Last time this came up I checked my 1982 papers.)

newyearbaby90 · 01/01/2023 00:20

I think part of it is because some students are entitled to extra time. 25% added onto 3 hours would seem too much I think.

KnickerlessParsons · 01/01/2023 00:20

I have often wondered the same thing.
The school day is so shorter. We finished at 3:50pm and started at 8:50am

bonkersbirdie · 01/01/2023 00:00

Maths gcse is 3x1.5 hours so only 30 minutes less.