The emerging evidence on exams and mental health is alarming (More exam stress at 15 linked to higher risk of depression as young adult – study, 12 February). Exams are the fairest and most reliable way to assess what students know and can do. They provide a sense of achievement and can help to build resilience.
But something is out of sync. Young people face too many GCSE exams over too short a period. As the Cambridge OCR exam board has shown, England’s 16-year-olds spend longer in exam halls than almost any of their international peers. Last year, the government committed to a 10% reduction in exam time. It’s a step in the right direction, when we need a leap.
