GCSE and A-level exams in England this summer will be replaced by teacher assessments, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has confirmed.
Mr Williamson told MPs that the Government will put its "trust in teachers, rather than algorithms".
The Education Secretary acknowledged that exams are the "fairest way" of assessing what a student knows, but said the impact of the pandemic meant it was not possible to hold exams in the summer.
His comments in the House of Commons came after the Government announced that schools and colleges in England would be closed until mid-February during the third national lockdown.
The grading of GCSE and A-level students in England became a disaster last summer when end-of-year exams were cancelled amid school closures.
Thousands of A-level students had their results downgraded from school estimates by a controversial algorithm, before Ofqual announced a U-turn, allowing them to use teachers' predictions.
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But speaking on Wednesday, Mr Williamson said he wishes to use a form of teacher-assessed grades to award results rather than an algorithm.
Mr Williamson said the Government had wanted exams to take place, despite being aware this may not be possible, telling MPs: "I will not apologise for being enthusiastic to ensure that we had been able to be in a position to roll out exams - but we do recognise where we are as a result of this pandemic, we have to take a different course and that is why we're taking the route we are."
On technical and vocational qualifications, Mr Williamson said: "It's very important that we give colleges, schools and all providers the flexibility because there's a lot of young people who will actually need to complete some of their professional competency qualifications in order to take up work and job opportunities - whether that is those who are doing electrician courses or gas courses, where they have to do practical assessments in order to get the qualifications to take the work, jobs and opportunities (and) we want to ensure that the door is kept open for them."
Mr Williamson also misspoke as he told the Commons: "I can absolutely assure (shadow education secretary Kate Green) I will not let schools be open for a moment longer than they, I will not let schools be closed for a moment longer than they need to be and will do everything I can to ensure every school is open so children are able to benefit from the brilliant teaching that goes on."
He added he will "give everything" to ensure schools are the "first thing to be opened in every instance".
