Oral tests could be dropped from language GCSEs because they are "too stressful", according to a report.
Oral tests could be dropped from language GCSEs because they are "too stressful", according to a report.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority could adopt a recommendation to rely on teacher assessments instead, reports the Sunday Telegraph.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority could adopt a recommendation to rely on teacher assessments instead, reports the Sunday Telegraph.
The QCA would not confirm the story, but said its report next week would follow the line of last year's review of language teaching by Lord Dearing.
The QCA would not confirm the story, but said its report next week would follow the line of last year's review of language teaching by Lord Dearing.
The review said one-off oral tests were not a reliable guide to ability.
The review said one-off oral tests were not a reliable guide to ability.
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove told the Sunday Telegraph: "After being told they could get a pass without writing a word in a foreign language, now pupils are being told they can pass without speaking it.
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove told the Sunday Telegraph: "After being told they could get a pass without writing a word in a foreign language, now pupils are being told they can pass without speaking it.
"Once again, this government is moving the goalposts on examinations and instead of proper rigour we have got a watering down of standards."
"Once again, this government is moving the goalposts on examinations and instead of proper rigour we have got a watering down of standards."
'Unreliable test'
'Unreliable test'
Lord Dearing's report affirmed the importance of speaking and listening in language GCSEs and recommended these skills should make up half of the marks.
Lord Dearing's report affirmed the importance of speaking and listening in language GCSEs and recommended these skills should make up half of the marks.
But he warned that the stress of oral exams might deter young people from signing up to take languages.
But he warned that the stress of oral exams might deter young people from signing up to take languages.
"It is interesting that when people spoke about the oral test, that however long ago it may have been, it is often remembered as a stressful experience," he wrote.
"It is interesting that when people spoke about the oral test, that however long ago it may have been, it is often remembered as a stressful experience," he wrote.
"We therefore proposed that these parts of the examination should be over a period through moderated teacher assessment."
"We therefore proposed that these parts of the examination should be over a period through moderated teacher assessment."
Lord Dearing emphasised that any change should not weaken the "validity of the assessment".
Lord Dearing emphasised that any change should not weaken the "validity of the assessment".
But he said: "That has to be balanced against the risk that a test that is often highly stressful and over a short period, whilst accurate in its awards against performance on the day, is not a reliable test of the candidates' capability."
But he said: "That has to be balanced against the risk that a test that is often highly stressful and over a short period, whilst accurate in its awards against performance on the day, is not a reliable test of the candidates' capability."
The report was accepted by the then-Education Secretary Alan Johnson in March 2007.
The report was accepted by the then-Education Secretary Alan Johnson in March 2007.
A sharp fall in students taking language GCSEs had prompted the review.
A sharp fall in students taking language GCSEs had prompted the review.
The drop came after the government ended compulsory modern languages up to the age of 16 in 2004.
The drop came after the government ended compulsory modern languages up to the age of 16 in 2004.
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