THE HISTORY OF EXAMS
Examining history
Old school: An examination hall in 1910
We begin our update of the
Initially just 370 students sat examinations, arithmetic, mathematics, drawing, and music.
held in eight English cities: Birmingham, Candidates could also sit a test in religious
current GCSE reforms by
Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Grantham, knowledge if their parents were agreeable.
Liverpool, London, and Norwich. Other There were two examinations – one for
taking a look at the history
universities, such as Oxford and London, were students who were under 16 years of age,
setting up similar examination systems at and the other for under-18s. Girls were not
of our education system and
around the same time. formally admitted to sit exams until 1867.
Originally exams were offered in English Examinations took place over a period
how it has developed up language and literature, history, geography, of six days and were taken in the morning,
until now
geology, Greek, Latin, French, German, afternoon and evening.
physical sciences, zoology, chemistry, The punishment for cheating ranged from
W
hen the first candidates sat their
examinations in 1858, they were
Examinations timeline
pioneering a system that has since
become the foundation of education in this
1858 The University of Cambridge set
1985 UCLES begin development of
country, and the pivot around which teaching
up its Local Examination
the International GCSE,
and learning turns today.
Syndicate (UCLES) to raise
currently the most popular
In that year, the University of Cambridge set standards in education.
international examination in
up its Local Examinations Syndicate – a name
1864 The first overseas examinations
that was kept until 2005, when Cambridge
the world.
take place in Trinidad.
Assessment was launched.
1988 GCSEs taken for the first time,
“The key word in those days was ‘local’,”
1865 The first female candidates are
and replace O levels and CSE.
explained Andrew Watts, director of the
accepted for an initial trial
1990s Number of examination boards
Cambridge Assessment Network. “Exam period of three years.
was reduced with UCLES
papers could then be taken to centres by
1880 In England, attendance at
merging with the Southern
train, so for the first time students could sit
school was made compulsory
examinations in their local area, whether it
University Joint Board, the
was the school, a hotel, or the church hall, and
until the age of 10.
University of Oxford Delegacy
they did not have to travel to Cambridge to
1914 Examination disrupted by the
of Local Examination, and
take them.” onset of war.
the Oxford and Cambridge
He continued: “The advent of the railroad
1951 O levels and A levels introduced.
Schools Examination Board.
meant that examiners could travel around the
1965 Introduction of the Certificate in
country invigilating the exams. The presiding
2005 UCLES was re-named as
examiners travelled to centres by train, and
Secondary Education (CSE).
Cambridge Assessment.
arrived in exam rooms wearing academic
1971 School leaving age in England
2008 Reform of 14 to 19 education
gowns and carrying a locked box containing raised to 16.
in the UK.
the question papers.”
2 SecEd
DELIVERING INNOVATION IN QUALIFICATIONS
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