Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

International Baccalaureate Examinations

Monday 18 January 2021 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department is consulting on alternative arrangements for international baccalaureate exams in 2021.
  • No final decision has been made regarding whether IB exams will take place this spring.
  • Department aims to ensure IB students are not disadvantaged compared to those taking A-levels.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Gareth Johnson Con
Context

No specific background provided. The question pertains to arrangements made by the Department regarding international baccalaureate exams in 2021.

Question

What arrangements his Department has made for examinations in 2021 for international baccalaureate students?

Answer from Nick Gibb

Although exams are the fairest way of assessing what a student knows, it is no longer viable for exams to go ahead as planned, so international baccalaureate students should be subject to a similar approach to GCSEs and A-levels. Working with Ofqual, we are consulting on alternative arrangements for fairly awarding grades in qualifications, including the IB, when exams do not take place, so that students can progress to the next stage of their lives.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific details about the alternative arrangements or timeline for implementation.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Gareth Johnson Con
Education
Context

Some schools in the constituency choose IB examinations over A-levels. No final decision has been made on whether these exams will take place this spring, leading to concerns about disadvantaged students.

Question

No final decision has yet been taken as to whether those exams will take place this spring, so will my right hon. Friend commit to assisting these schools, so that no child who takes the IB exam will be disadvantaged compared with those who are due to take A-levels?

Answer from Nick Gibb

I am aware of some excellent schools in my hon. Friend's constituency, particularly Dartford Grammar School, under the excellent headteacher, Mr Oakes, that do offer the IB. The joint consultation document that we published on Friday says that it is the Department's policy position that external exams for many vocational, technical and other general qualifications should not take place as planned. For other general qualifications that are not GCSEs or A levels, such as the International Baccalaureate, the awarding approach should be similar to GCSEs, AS and A levels. In other words, we are talking about teacher-assessed grades but with the evidence base and checks and balances, as set out in the consultation document.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a specific commitment or timeline for assisting schools offering IB exams.

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email