Introduction of open book English GCSE exams to be discussed in parliament

A petition calling for open book examinations in GCSE English to be introduced has received more than 109,000 signatures.

The Petition states that closed book examinations for GCSE English Literature mean that students have to memorise quotes for the test.

It states that “exams shouldn’t be a test on student’s memory, but how we interpret text”.

MPs are now set to discuss the matter on 24 April, which will be available to watch online at parliamentlive.tv.

The petition also says that an estimated amount of 250 quotes could be potentially memorised or this exam and on top of other exams, “students are experiencing high levels of stress”.

It concluded that “English is a subject that employers and universities look at, therefore if students are unable to realistically achieve high grades - there will be lower employment rates”.

The government responded by saying that “GCSE English literature content requires students to read the full texts of the books and poems they study. Students will not need to remember the exact words of poems by heart in order to succeed.”