Rejected petition: Space GCSE examinations more evenly to avoid multiple exams in one day
Rejected on
I would like the Government to ensure that GCSE examination timetables are arranged so that students are not required to sit multiple exams on the same day, and that there is sufficient time between exams.
Sitting two or more exams in one day places significant mental and physical strain on students. It can increase stress and anxiety levels, reduce concentration, and lead to fatigue, all of which can negatively impact performance.
For some students, this pressure may also worsen existing health conditions such as migraines or other medical issues that affect focus, memory, and overall wellbeing. Managing large amounts of information for multiple exams in a single day can be overwhelming and may prevent students from performing to the best of their ability.
Spacing exams more evenly would support students’ mental and physical health, improve concentration and performance, and create a fairer examination system for all.
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s about something that the UK Government or Parliament is not directly responsible for.
The Government has no responsibility for setting dates for GCSE or most other exams, nor does Parliament. It's in the hands of the Joint Council for Qualifications which is independent of government at any level and is a membership body for the main exam boards, academic publishers and awarding institutions:
https://www.jcq.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.