Hi! This is 💯 exactly what I have been thinking about for months and months!! Also been throwing thoughts out here on Substack. In short, yes the essay is severely challenged. In my school we are beginning to see a move to Socratic dialogues. Students love it, teachers love it. Instant grading, potentially, and genuine display of skills. I have literally just set a prep homework for students to read / research / watch an instructional video / use AI, if they want, to prepare. But then in class it’s going to be minimal notes, and full Socratic dialogue.

I very much hope that exam boards wake up to this, and that we go down the multi-modal / portfolio route instead of essay based timed exams. Change needs to happen. Now!