Next year's GCSE and A-level exams could be pushed back to give pupils more time to study the syllabus, the Education Secretary has said.
Gavin Williamson said England's exams regulator, Ofqual, was working with the education sector to decide whether there should be a "short delay" to the exam timetable in 2021.
It comes as he calls from Labour to show how he will "make up for the damage already done" to pupils following the exam "fiasco" that came amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Williamson told the Daily Telegraph: "I know there's some concern about next year's exams, and that's why we've been working with Ofqual on changes we can make to help pupils when they take GCSEs and A-levels next year.
"Ofqual will continue to work with the education sector and other stakeholders on whether there should be a short delay to the GCSE, A and AS-level exam timetable in 2021, with the aim of creating more teaching time."
Exam season usually begins in May, but the paper said sources suggested they could be pushed back to June and July - but they would not cut into the summer holidays.
Mr Williamson's comments - on the eve of many schools in England reopening to all pupils for the first time since March - follow a call from Labour for a delay to next year's exams.
Shadow education secretary Kate Green said pupils entering Year 11 and 13 who have lost up to six months of teaching time face "a mountain to climb" unless the timetable is changed.
She said: "Ministers had warning after warning about problems with this year's exam results, but allowed it to descend into a fiasco.
"This is too important for Boris Johnson to leave until the last minute. Pupils heading back to school need clarity and certainty about the year ahead."
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: "Labour's suggestion of a delay to help with 'catch-up' is worthy of serious consideration.
"A delay is not without its problems, a consequential delay to the publication of results will put pressure on higher education providers such as universities and colleges as well as employers. All this will need to be dealt with."
Ahead of schools reopening and MPs returning to Westminster, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Mr Williamson should go to Parliament to "tell us how he will protect our children's futures".
Sir Keir said Mr Williamson "needs to explain how he will make up for the damage already done, bring pupils up to speed and mitigate against the ongoing risk from the pandemic".
The Labour leader, who accused the Government of taking a "chaotic approach" to education, said this week would bring a mixture of excitement and anxiety for millions of families across England.
"Excitement for children who will be back in the classroom for the first time in months. But anxiety for teachers and parents about a year ahead that is full of uncertainty because of a pandemic that continues to cast its shadow over children's education.
"I want to pay tribute to the extraordinary dedication of our teachers and school staff who have worked tirelessly over the summer to make sure schools can reopen safely.
"Labour want and expect children to be back at school. Every day that schools were closed was a day of opportunity, learning and support lost. This situation was worsened by the exams fiasco and the Government's chaotic approach to education.
"We cannot keep repeating those same mistakes. Young people's futures cannot be held back by the Conservatives' incompetence."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson sought to blame the recent A-level and GCSE results chaos on a “mutant algorithm”.
Mr Johnson acknowledged the stress caused by the situation which eventually resulted in a U-turn – with grades in England awarded based on teachers’ assessments rather than the Ofqual moderation process.