Managing high-stakes assessments and exams during crisis

This Issue Note looks at the coping strategies of countries to manage high-stakes exams during the crisis. Countries are adopting different strategies - in many cases a mix of them - to cope with the situation, including organizing exams with special arrangements or exceptions to the rules (e.g. school-based examinations with physical distancing, remote assessment with parental supervision), cancellation, postponement/rescheduling, on-line assessment, and introducing alternative approaches to exams and validation of learning (e.g. review of student’s past assessments/learning portfolio, validation of learning without exams). However, some students may be more able to participate in one particular arrangement for exams than another, opening up a discussion about inclusion and fairness. Also, alternative approaches could lower exam standards, as could modified exams with less test items or project work.