Thousands of students will be able to sit their functional skills exams from home from next week, the first ever time under “game changing” plans unveiled by City & Guilds.

The awarding giant will move from assessments at centres to remote invigilation by using online meeting software such as GoToMeeting, Zoom and Microsoft Teams during the Covid-19 crisis.

Newly reformed functional skills qualifications in English and maths were rolled out in September 2019 and include strict invigilation criteria.

Exams regulator Ofqual has however given the move from City & Guilds the green light, explaining that their rules do not rule out remote or even home invigilation.

But they said they do require awarding organisations to satisfy themselves that the assessment arrangements used for a qualification are appropriate.

David Phillips, managing director at City & Guild, told FE Week: “This Covid-19 crisis has helped us think very differently about learner progression and how to get them through assessments.

“The move to remote invigilation, where learners can securely sit the test from home will be a game changer for colleges and training providers.

“We have had very good and open dialogue with Ofqual and are really pleased to be able to do this from next week.”

Last month the government announced the cancellation of the summer exams series for A-levels and GCSEs. Students will instead be graded via teacher evidence of each student’s performance throughout their studies, including mock tests.

Unlike GCSE and A-levels that are typically tested in the summer, functional skills qualifications are on-demand tests, with most exam boards running a session each month.

A City & Guilds spokesperson said the organisation will be able to “deliver remote testing of our E-volve tests on-demand at our learner’s homes.

“This will continue the delivery of a number of our assessments including functional skills during the Covid-19 closures.

“Centres will be able to remotely deliver and invigilate the online tests to learners and apprentices in their own home environment.”

They added that detailed guidelines and instructions will be available to centres in the week commencing 6 April.

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8 Comments

  1. Philip

    I can see the cogs turning in the collective brains of the ESFA.

    ‘Ooh, let’s reduce the amount paid to providers for Functional Skills, so it’s only worthwhile if the learner does it from home’…………..

    • layla

      i dont understand this. Im retaking my maths GCSE and functional skills level 2 maths. I really need either of these to go onto the apprenticeship.

      Does this mean we willbe doing our exam at home?

  2. How are they going to stop any cheating if the exams are done from home. surely people would cheat by using a open book or help from out of the screens view.

  3. This is madness. How on earth are they going to verify that the correct student is the one actually taking the test rather than their parent or big brother fir example? Zoom has already been infiltrated by porn so that software is clearly secure! How in the world have Ofqual allowed this?

  4. I have completed a certified online exam in Dental Radiography last year. The modern technology, internet and safety encryptions available at this day in age makes it possible with the advantage of having the results much faster. I think it’s ridiculous to waste a lot of paper, petrol and time in order to gain your qualifications. Online courses and exams are wonderful solutions in modern times to complete your study. I do hope that there will be possibility to take GCSE and A-levels online very soon.

  5. ANDRE MATTHEW ANDERSON

    Great evening to you David Phillips, managing director at City & Guild,
    what I Would love to know is when is the next sitting for City & Guilds Math?
    and I Have been registered with Distinction College, to do English and math I do the sitting for Maths but not sure of my Grade if I fail or Pass, MY ID NUMBER IS:DCORB4656
    DOB: March 03, 1989
    and would love to know how can I sit the city and Guilds English exam.
    its was in the Covid time I haven’t herd anything from the school since then.
    and if I fail Maths would love to know how can i resit it If fail?
    and whats your newly online way to get the exam done?

    Thank you sincerely,
    Andre Anderson