GCSEs, AS and A Levels should be available this autumn in all subjects, according to the proposals in Ofqual’s latest consultation on an additional exam series later in 2020.

Following discussions with the DfE, exam boards, schools, colleges and student groups, Ofqual has set out its proposals for an exam series in autumn 2020. This additional series would provide students who would like to improve their grade or who were unable to receive a calculated grade in the summer, with the chance to take an exam.

The consultation also seeks views on non-exam assessment (NEA) as the extent to which students will have completed this both prior to school/college closures and also in the autumn will vary. However, with the exception of art and design, Ofqual proposes that grades awarded in the autumn should be based only on students’ performance in their exams, with no non-exam assessments.

Ofqual is not consulting on the exact dates for the autumn exams because of the current uncertainty about when schools and colleges will re-open fully. However, Ofqual suggests that AS and A Levels could be in October with GCSEs in November.

The consultation is open until Monday 8 June 2020.

For vocational and technical qualifications, Ofqual has confirmed that where exam boards normally offer an autumn assessment opportunity, they must take all reasonable steps to continue to do so.  Where an autumn assessment opportunity is not normally offered, exam boards should do so where there are enough learners who need to take an assessment or where it would be unfair not to.