Due to the Coronavirus, there is talk of postponing GCSE and A-level exams to September, straight after the summer holidays. With the Coronavirus expected to peak around the time of the GCSE exams, many people will be ill and therefore be unable to complete their exams.

Coronavirus aside, in the case of a student being unable to do their exams due to illness, they are given their predicted grades (they were given them for a reason weren’t they?). Why should this be treated any differently?

It is not easy to come up with a solution that will please everyone however pushing back the GCSEs would mean what should be their summer of a lifetime would be a summer of revision and stress. With no reward for the years spent working up to these exams, how will so many motivate themselves?

There are many ways we can tackle the issue, the problem is deciding on the best solution.

Proposed solutions include those able to take their exams and not infected with the virus can complete their exams like normal. Their grades can then be based off last years grade boundaries as it would be expected many would not be taking part in the exams. Those that don’t do the exams would simply get their predicted grades, like any student unable to do their exams.

With many schools currently closed, many students are being put at a disadvantage. The option for having their predicted grades should be made available for them. 

The possibility of taking all or just specific GCSEs in 2021 with the current year 10s could also be made a possibility for those unhappy with their predicted grades and are unable to do their exams. 

We must fight this virus and protect the vulnerable. Whatever happens, summer must go on.