Education Minister ends AS era announcing NI’s biggest exam reform in a generation

Northern Ireland’s exam system is facing its biggest shake-up in a generation, with AS levels to be scrapped and the overall number of GCSE and A Level exams significantly reduced under sweeping reforms announced today.

Education Minister Paul Givan has published a new policy framework for CCEA GCSE and A level qualifications, setting out structural changes designed to cut exam pressure, reduce coursework, and shift the focus from “teaching to the test” to deeper learning.

The changes form a central plank of his TransformED strategy and will reshape how young people in Northern Ireland are assessed from Key Stage 4 through post-16 education.

AS levels to go as new modular A Level introduced

Under the new model, CCEA will no longer offer a separate AS qualification. Instead, a new two-year modular A Level will be introduced, comprising three units of assessment.

One designated unit may be taken at the end of Year 13 and will count for 30 per cent of the overall grade. The remaining two units, taken in Year 14, will account for 70 per cent. Schools that prefer a fully linear approach will be able to enter pupils for all units at the end of Year 14.

Currently, AS results contribute 40 per cent to a pupil’s final A Level grade. The Minister argued that the existing structure places Northern Ireland pupils at a disadvantage compared to their peers in England, who sit fewer exams for the same qualification.

In his oral statement to the Assembly, Mr Givan said:

“Northern Ireland pupils currently take far more exams than their peers in England to achieve the same qualifications due to the AS structure. These reforms address this unfairness and practices like using AS results to gatekeep Year 14 entry. They place learning, not testing, at the heart of education.”

He added:

“AS is a qualification that has outlived its purpose. It has no function or relevance. It is the fax-machine of the modern qualification system.”

The Minister also cited data showing that in 2025 only 7% of students who retook an AS unit improved their overall A Level grade, questioning the value of repeated resits.

To protect teaching time, he has asked CCEA to timetable the optional Year 13 unit at the end of June, aiming to prevent the early departure from school that currently occurs due to AS exam scheduling.

GCSEs to become largely linear

At GCSE level, most CCEA qualifications will move to a linear structure, with exams taken at the end of the two-year course.

However, GCSE English Language, Mathematics, and Single and Double Award Science will remain modular, allowing schools to enter pupils for unit assessments during the course if they wish. Practical subjects will continue to include non-examined assessment where essential.

The Minister confirmed he will not proceed with proposals to align Northern Ireland’s GCSE grading scale with England’s 9–1 system. GCSEs will continue to be graded on a nine-point A*–G scale.

Mr Givan told the Assembly:

“We do not need our 14-and 15-year-old children to enter a whole series of high-stakes exams in Year 11.”

He added:

“It recognises that our young people deserve time to grow and not be entered into 8,9 or 10 high stake exams at only 14 or 15 years old.”

Content and coursework to be reduced

Across both GCSE and A Level, CCEA has been instructed to reduce subject content where possible to allow deeper learning and greater mastery of key concepts.

Controlled assessment and coursework will be removed wherever possible and retained only where essential to assess core practical skills, such as in technology, PE and art.

Explaining the move, Mr Givan said:

“Reducing controlled assessment and coursework will also help address workload burdens, equity issues, and the impact of AI on take-home tasks.”

He argued that coursework arrangements have become “workload-intensive for staff and pupils”, can disadvantage those with less support at home, and are increasingly vulnerable to AI misuse.

In his concluding remarks, he said:

“These reforms place learning, not testing, at the heart of education. They reduce unnecessary pressure, restore precious teaching time, and ensure that every pupil regardless of background has the chance to master the knowledge and skills that will carry them into further study, work and adult life with confidence.”

Phased rollout from 2029

The reforms are set out in the TransformED Policy Framework for General Qualifications in Northern Ireland. Work will now begin on developing a new regulatory framework and revised CCEA specifications.

The introduction of revised qualifications will be phased over several years, with first teaching of the new GCSEs from September 2029. The Minister said schools will receive clear support materials, guidance and training in advance of implementation.

Describing the moment as a turning point, Mr Givan concluded:

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a qualifications system that is built on international evidence for improved outcomes for our children and young people; prioritising depth over volume and long-term success over outdated structures. These changes will create a coherent, modern, evidence-informed system designed for Northern Ireland. They will be good for pupils, good for teachers, and good for Northern Ireland.”

With AS levels set to disappear and exam numbers significantly reduced, the shape of secondary education in Northern Ireland is now firmly on a new trajectory — one that ministers say will prioritise depth, fairness and wellbeing over volume and repetition.

What’s changing: a simple guide for parents

• AS levels will be scrapped – they will no longer contribute to A Level grades.

• New two-year modular A Levels – three units of assessment over two years, with an optional Year 13 unit (30% of final grade) and two units in Year 14 (70%).

• Fewer exams overall – Northern Ireland pupils will take significantly fewer exams than under the current AS/A Level system.

• GCSEs mostly linear – exams will now be taken at the end of the two-year course, except for English, Maths, and Science, which remain modular.

• Reduced content – subjects will cover less content so pupils can focus on mastering key ideas in depth.

• Less coursework and controlled assessment – retained only when essential (e.g., practical subjects like Art, PE, Technology).

• Focus on learning, not testing – changes aim to reduce stress, give pupils more teaching time, and ensure qualifications are fair and relevant.

• Phased rollout – new GCSEs and A Levels will start teaching from September 2029, with full support and guidance for schools.