Skip to main content

OCR homepage

  • OCR sites
  • About
  • Contact us

Administration

  • Active Results
  • Interchange
  • Submit for Assessment
  • Teach Cambridge

Support

  • ExamBuilder

FAQs

  • Online Support Centre

Main navigation

  • Subjects
    • Mathematics
    • English
    • Geography
    • History
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
    • Science
    • Computer science and ICT
    • Business
    • PE and sport
    See all subjects
  • Qualifications
    • AS and A Level
    • GCSE
    • Entry Level
    • Cambridge Advanced Nationals
    • Cambridge Technicals
    • Cambridge Nationals
    • Core Maths
    See all qualifications
  • Administration
    • Overviews
    • Preparation
    • Entries
    • Assessment
    • Results
    • Post-results services
    • Certificates
    • Support and tools
    Administration
    • Interchange
    • Basedata
    • Grade boundaries
    • Key dates and timetables
  • More
  • Students
    • Past papers
    • Replacement certificates
    • Exam dates and timetables
    • Getting your results
    • Convert raw marks to UMS
    • Private candidates
    • Exams explained
    • Managing stress
    More for students
  • Students
    • Past papers
    • Replacement certificates
    • Exam dates and timetables
    • Getting your results
    • Convert raw marks to UMS
    • Private candidates
    • Exams explained
    • Managing stress
    More for students
  • OCR Sites
    • Active Results
    • Interchange
    • Submit for Assessment
    • Teach Cambridge
    • ExamBuilder
    • Online Support Centre
  • About
  • Contact us

  • Subjects
    • Mathematics
    • English
    • Geography
    • History
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
    • Science
    • Computer science and ICT
    • Business
    • PE and sport
      • See all subjects
  • Qualifications
    • AS and A Level
    • GCSE
    • Entry Level
    • Cambridge Advanced Nationals
    • Cambridge Technicals
    • Cambridge Nationals
    • Core Maths
      • See all qualifications
  • Administration
    • Overviews
    • Preparation
    • Entries
    • Assessment
    • Results
    • Post-results services
    • Certificates
    • Support and tools
      • Administration
    • Interchange
    • Basedata
    • Grade boundaries
    • Key dates and timetables
  • Students
    • Past papers
    • Replacement certificates
    • Exam dates and timetables
    • Getting your results
    • Convert raw marks to UMS
    • Private candidates
    • Exams explained
    • Managing stress
      • More for students
  • OCR Sites
    • Active Results
    • Interchange
    • Submit for Assessment
    • Teach Cambridge
    • ExamBuilder
    • Online Support Centre
  • About
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • Administration
  • Support and tools
  • Subject updates
  • Summer 2021 adaptations for GCSE, AS and A Levels

    • Sign up for email updates
    • OCR on Twitter
    • OCR on Instagram
    • OCR on Facebook
    • OCR on LinkedIn
    • OCR YouTube channel
    • Latest OCR blog posts

    Subject updates

    Quick Links

      • Sign up for email updates
      • OCR on Twitter
      • OCR on Instagram
      • OCR on Facebook
      • OCR on LinkedIn
      • OCR YouTube channel
      • Latest OCR blog posts
      Summer 2021 adaptations of AS, A Level and GCSE qualifications 14 October 2020

      This update was originally published on 3 September 2020. It will be revised as more details are confirmed. We have now included a link to the new NEA food preparation task for June 2021, confirmed the geographical context of the unfamiliar fieldwork questions for GCSE Geography A and B and further arrangements for GCSE History B.


      On 4 August 2020, Ofqual announced the outcome of its consultation on assessments, to ‘reduce the pressure on teachers and students in the next academic year’.

      We’re working on what these consultation proposals and principles mean for our qualifications and how we can support you over the coming academic year. 

      We have summarised the adaptations to our qualifications, for students certificating in summer 2021, for the affected GCSE, AS and A Levels. We'll provide more information and support soon.

      If your GCSE, AS Level or A Level subject is not listed here, this means there are no adaptations planned for 2021. 

      If you have any queries about this update, please call our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998.



      What's on this page

      Ancient History English Language History
      Art and Design English Literature  Media Studies
      Citizenship Studies Film Studies Music
      Computer Science Food Preparation and Nutrition Physical Education
      Design and Technology Geography Sciences
      Drama Geology

      Ancient History

      GCSE Ancient History J198

      Students taking GCSE Ancient History in summer 2021 will be examined on both period studies and one depth study.

      Top of page

      Art and Design

      GCSE Art and Design (9-1) J170–J176

      Students taking GCSE (9-1) Art & Design in summer 2021 will not have to study the full course and will not be assessed on all the content: 

      • All students must complete the Component (01): Portfolio.  
      • We have removed Component (02): Externally set task for summer 2021 
      • No pre-release material will be published for summer 2021. 
      • All work submitted for moderation in summer 2021 will be via photographic evidence and/or a digital portfolio. 

      A Level Art and Design H600–H606

      Students taking A Level Art & Design in summer 2021 will not have to study the full course and will not be assessed on all the content: 

      • All students must complete the Component (01): Personal investigation, including the portfolio and related study.
      • We have removed Component (02): Externally set task for summer 2021 
      • No pre-release material will be published for summer 2021. 
      • All work submitted for moderation in summer 2021 will be via photographic evidence and/or a digital portfolio. 

      AS Level Art and Design H200–H206

      • We have reformed Component (01) from an externally set task to a portfolio/personal investigation for summer 2021.
      • All students must complete the Component (01) – Portfolio/Personal investigation. 
      • No pre-release material will be published for summer 2021. 
      • All work submitted for moderation in summer 2021 will be via photographic evidence and/or a digital portfolio. 

      For more information, you can watch our YouTube video: Changes to Assessment in 2021 - Art and Design


      Top of page

      Citizenship Studies

      GCSE Citizenship Studies (9-1) J270

      We'll be providing guidance on how students can carry out citizenship in action during this time when there are public health restrictions. There will be:

      • No changes to the question papers 
      • No changes made to the marking criteria.  

      Top of page

      Computer Science

      GCSE Computer Science (9-1) J276

      • The Programming Project remains a requirement and students should be given 20 hours of time to complete the Programming Project. 
      • Students do not need to be directly supervised by their teacher when completing the Programming Project. This means that students may now complete the Programming Project remotely at home or in school, or a mixture of both. 
      • A sample of Programming Project work will not need to be submitted in May 2021. 
      • Centres will not be required to submit a CCS161 form.
      • Centres must still log the time each candidate spends on the Programming Project. Keep this log securely within the centre. You do not need to send it to us.

      Top of page

      Design and Technology

      GCSE Design and Technology (9-1) J310

      A Level Design and Technology H404–H406

      AS Level Design and Technology H004–H006

      • Ofqual has confirmed that for 2021 we can accept mock-ups and/or clear and detailed intentions of prototypes. We will provide clarification about our requirements.
      • Ofqual has also confirmed we can allow demonstrations of using machinery/tools/processes.
      • The examined components will remain unchanged. 

      Top of page


      Drama

      GCSE Drama (9-1) J316

      Students taking GCSE Drama in summer 2021 will have a reduction in NEA requirements:  

      • The minimum duration time of performances for Devising Drama and Presenting and Performing Texts will be reduced. 
      • In both NEA components students will be allowed to present monologues for performance where group performances are not possible. 
      • There will be no change to the written paper Performance and Response.  
      • There will be no visiting examiner for Presenting and Performing Texts. Performance recordings will be submitted instead.  
      • The Evaluation of Live Theatre will, as currently, be allowed to be on a recorded/streamed/digital performance. 

      A Level Drama and Theatre H459

      Students taking A Level Drama and Theatre in summer 2021 will have a reduction in NEA requirements:

      • There will be a reduction in minimum duration time of performances for Practitioners in Practice and Exploring and Performing Texts. 
      • In both NEA components students will be allowed to present monologues for performance where group performances are not possible.  
      • There will be no change to the written papers Analysing Performance and Deconstructing Texts. 
      • There will be no visiting examiner for Exploring and Performing Texts. Performance recordings will be submitted instead.  
      • The Evaluation of Live Theatre will, as currently, be allowed to be on a recorded/streamed/digital performance. 

      AS Level Drama and Theatre H059

      Students taking AS Level Drama and Theatre in summer 2021 will have a reduction in NEA requirements:

      • Students will be allowed to present monologues for performance where group performances are not possible. 
      • There will be no change to the written paper Exploring Performance. 
      • The Evaluation of Live Theatre will, as currently, be allowed to be on a recorded/streamed/digital performance. 

      Top of page


      English Language

      GCSE English Language (9-1) J351

      • Teachers do not need to submit a sample of audio-visual recordings for the Spoken Language endorsement in summer 2021.
      • The Spoken Language assessment can:
      • take place in front of one teacher who will represent the ‘audience’ 
      • be conducted virtually at any point during the course.
      • There is no requirement for teachers to submit a sample of video recordings for exam board monitoring in summer 2021. However, you will still need to submit an OCR NEA Centre Declaration Form showing that all students have been given the opportunity to complete the Spoken Language endorsement. We will update this form in line with the 2021 changes. 

      Top of page

      English Literature

      GCSE English Literature (9-1) J352

      Students taking GCSE (9-1) English Literature in summer 2021 will be assessed on a play by Shakespeare and on two of the remaining three areas of content:

      • poetry
      • 19th century novel
      • Fiction/drama from the British Isles from 1914 (modern texts). 

      Top of page


      Film Studies

      A Level Film Studies H410

      • Students taking A Level Film Studies in summer 2021 will be able to submit prototypes/mock-ups, with supporting evidence, of their NEA production. Students can still submit completed NEA productions where they are able to.
      • We will provide further guidance on the requirements for submitting prototypes/mock-ups.
      • There will be no changes to the examined components.

      AS Level Film Studies H010

      • Students taking AS Level Film Studies in summer 2021 will be able to submit prototypes/mock-ups, with supporting evidence, of their NEA production. Students can still submit completed NEA productions where they are able to.
      • We provide further guidance on the requirements for submitting prototypes/mock-ups. 
      • There will be no changes to the examined components.

      For more information, you can watch our YouTube video: Changes to Assessment in 2021 - Film Studies

        

      Top of page


      Food Preparation and Nutrition

      GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition (9-1) J309

      Students taking GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition in summer 2021 will only need to complete one non-examination assessment (NEA) instead of two. The first NEA (investigation task) has been removed. 

      For the second NEA (preparation task), students need to create two dishes to be completed within 3 hours. You can view the NEA food preparation task on the Assessment section of our qualification web page.


      Component Topic Title Requirement
      J309/01 Food Preparation and Nutrition Compulsory
      J309/02 or 03
      		Food Investigation Task Not required for 2021
      J309/04 or 05
      		Food Preparation Task
      		Compulsory


      Top of page

      Geography

      GCSE Geography A (Geographical Themes) (9-1) J383 

      • In the exams, students will not be asked questions about their own fieldwork experience.  
      • Students will still be asked questions during the exams on unfamiliar fieldwork contexts.   
      • To prepare students for the unfamiliar fieldwork questions, teachers should provide students with the opportunity to engage in the enquiry process and fieldwork where possible, whether that is ‘in the field’ or through virtual fieldwork (classroom based). 
      • We will be producing updated Sample Assessment Material to show how the assessment will look in 2021. 
      • Centres do not need to sign a Fieldwork Statement confirming that fieldwork has taken place on at least two occasions. 

      GCSE Geography B (Geography for Enquiring Minds) (9-1) J384

      • In the exams, students will not be asked questions about their own fieldwork experience.   
      • Students will still be asked questions during the exams on unfamiliar fieldwork contexts.   
      • To prepare students for the unfamiliar fieldwork questions, teachers should provide students with the opportunity to engage in the enquiry process and fieldwork where possible, whether that is ‘in the field’ or through virtual fieldwork (classroom based).
      • We will be producing updated Sample Assessment Material to show how the assessment will look in 2021. 
      • Centres do not need to sign a Fieldwork Statement confirming that fieldwork has taken place on at least two occasions. 

      AS Level Geography H081

      • Students will not be asked questions during the exams in relation to their own fieldwork experience. 
      • Students will still be asked questions during the exams on unfamiliar fieldwork but will have the flexibility to answer these questions in relation to either human or physical geography.
      • To prepare students for the unfamiliar fieldwork questions, teachers should provide students with the opportunity to engage in the enquiry process and fieldwork where possible, whether that is ‘in the field’ or through virtual fieldwork (classroom based). 
      • Centres do not need to sign a Fieldwork Statement confirming that fieldwork has taken place over at least two days.

      A Level Geography H481

      • There will be no changes to the assessment in 2021.
      • The non-exam assessment remains but with more flexibility around the use of primary data. We will provide more guidance and support shortly.
      • Centres do not need to sign a Fieldwork Statement confirming that fieldwork has taken place over at least four days.

      Top of page

      Geology

      AS Level Geology H014

      • For students on an AS only pathway, if they are unable to carry out practical science work, they should be allowed to observe a demonstration and/or simulation carried out by a teacher or remotely (e.g. by watching a demonstration online or a video).   
      • Students completing an AS Level as the first year of the two-year A Level course will still be expected to meet the full A Level Practical Endorsement requirements before examinations in June 2022. 
      • A minimum of 15% of the marks in the written examinations will still cover indirect assessment of practical skills.  
      • The requirement to undertake fieldwork over two days has been removed. Centres must still submit an OCR NEA Centre Declaration Form, but we will be updating this for 2021. 
      • You should still try and meet the fieldwork requirements if you can. If you are unable to, you still need to teach the relevant techniques to your students as they will still be expected to answer questions about these in the examinations. 

      A Level Geology H414

      • The basic requirements for the Practical Endorsement are unchanged. You should still aim to complete a minimum of 12 practical activities with your students, covering all of the CPAC and apparatus and techniques. A minimum of 15% of marks in the written examinations will still cover indirect assessment of practical skills. 
      • The requirement to undertake fieldwork over 4 days has been removed. Centres must still submit an OCR NEA Centre Declaration Form, but we will be updating this for 2021. 
      • You should still try and meet the fieldwork requirements if you can. If you are unable to, you still need to teach the relevant techniques to your students as they will still be expected to answer questions about these in the examinations. 
      • All monitoring during the 2020/2021 academic year will be carried out remotely. There will be no face-to-face visits. Remote monitoring will not include a lesson observation but will still require inspection of teacher records and student work. 

      Top of page

      History

      GCSE (9-1) History A (Explaining the Modern World) J410

      Students taking GCSE (9-1) History A (Explaining the Modern World) in summer 2021 will not have to study the full course and will not be assessed on all the content: 

      • All students will be required to study and will be assessed on the Period study (International Relations).  
      • Students will study and be assessed on two out of the three remaining studies: the Non-British Depth Study, the Thematic Study, and the British Depth Study and Study of a Historic Environment. Centres can choose which two of these studies they enter their students for.  

      GCSE (9-1) History B (School History Project) J411

      Students taking GCSE (9-1) History B (Schools History Project) in summer 2021 will not have to study the full course and will not be assessed on all the content: 

      • All students will need to study and will be assessed on the British Depth Study.  
      • Students will study and be assessed on three out of the four remaining studies: Thematic Study, History Around Us, the Period Study and the World Depth Study. Centres are free to choose which three of these studies they enter their students for. 

      We can now also confirm we will be assessing each exam paper within its own timetabled slot.

      Top of page

      Media Studies

      GCSE Media Studies (9-1) J200

      Students taking GCSE (9-1) Media Studies in summer 2021 will be able to submit prototypes/mock-ups, with supporting evidence, of an individual media product in response to the set briefs for the NEA component. Students can still submit completed NEA productions where they are able to. We will provide further guidance on the requirements for submitting prototypes/mock-ups.

      There will be no changes to the examined components.

      A Level Media Studies H409

      Students taking A Level Media Studies in summer 2021 will be able to submit prototypes/mock-ups, with supporting evidence, of an individual cross-media production in response to the set briefs for the NEA component. Students can still submit completed NEA productions where they are able to. We will provide further guidance on the requirements for submitting prototypes/mock-ups. 

      There will be no changes to the examined components.

      AS Level Media Studies H009

      Students taking AS Level Media Studies in summer 2021 will be able to submit prototypes/mock-ups, with supporting evidence, of an individual media production in response to the set briefs for the NEA component. Students can still submit completed NEA productions where they are able to. We will provide further guidance on the requirements for submitting prototypes/mock-ups.

      There will be no changes to the examined components.

      For more information, you can watch our YouTube video: Changes to Assessment in 2021 - Media Studies 

      Top of page

      Music

      GCSE Music (9-1) J536

      • The Practical Component (03/04) will be removed.  
      • The minimum duration for performances and compositions will be reduced.

      There will be no change to the written paper Listening and Appraising. 

      A Level Music H543

      • For Performing, the minimum number of pieces required will be reduced:
      • for Performing A (01) only one piece will be required (instead of two)
      • for Performing B (02) only two pieces will be required (instead of three).
      • The composition to an OCR-set brief will not be required for Composing A and B (03 and 04).
      • The minimum duration for performances and compositions will be reduced.

      There will be no change to the written paper Listening and Appraising.

      AS Level Music H143

      • The minimum number of pieces required for Performing (01) will be one (instead of two).
      • The composition to an OCR-set brief will not be required for Composing (02).
      • The minimum duration for performances and compositions will be reduced.

      There will be no change to the written paper Listening and Appraising.

      Top of page

      Physical Education

      GCSE Physical Education (9-1) J587

      • Students taking GCSE Physical Education in Summer 2021 will only need to be assessed in two activities. Both activities must be from the approved list of sports. 
      • Ofqual has confirmed that it will allow remote moderation using filmed evidence for all activities. Therefore, we will not be conducting moderation visits in summer 2021. We'll release information soon to explain the requirements for remote moderation.
      • Ofqual has confirmed that exam boards can explore relaxing the requirements for demonstrating competitive situations. We will provide clarification on what forms of evidence we will accept shortly.  
      • The examined components will remain unchanged. 

      AS and A Level Physical Education H155/H555

      • Ofqual has confirmed for both AS and A Level Physical Education in summer 2021 that it will allow remote moderation using filmed evidence for all activities. Therefore, we will not be conducting moderation visits in summer 2021. We'll release information soon, to explain the requirements for remote moderation.
      • Ofqual has also confirmed that exam boards can explore relaxing the requirements for demonstrating competitive situations. We will provide clarification on what forms of evidence we will accept shortly. 
      • The examined components will remain unchanged. 

      Top of page

      Sciences

      GCSE Science Suite A and Suite B

      Gateway J247, J248, J249, J250

      Twenty First Century Science J257, J258, J259, J260

      • If students cannot to carry out practical science activities, they can observe a demonstration and/or simulation to cover the apparatus and techniques required. This can be carried out by a teacher or remotely, for example by watching a demonstration online or a video.
      • There is no change to the assessment. A minimum of 15% of the marks on the exam papers will still test the apparatus and techniques covered by the practical activity groups (PAGs).
      • Centres must still submit an OCR NEA Centre Declaration Form.

      For more information, you can watch our YouTube video: Changes to Assessment in 2021 - GCSE (9-1) Sciences 


      A Level Biology A (H420); A Level Biology B (H422); A Level Chemistry A (H432); A Level Chemistry B (H433); A Level Physics A (H556); A Level Physics B (H557) 

      • The basic requirements for the Practical Endorsement are unchanged. You should still aim to complete a minimum of 12 practical activities with your students, covering all of the CPAC and apparatus and techniques. A minimum of 15% of marks in the written examinations will still cover indirect assessment of practical skills. 
      • We understand that circumstances, such as localised school closures, may make meeting the Practical Endorsement requirements difficult for some centres. In such cases, students can still be awarded the Practical Endorsement if they have demonstrated competence in all the CPAC and 1.2.1 criteria, even if they haven’t completed the usual minimum requirement of 12 practicals. However, it’s important that students are still taught about any apparatus and techniques they are unable to cover, as they will still be expected to answer questions about these in the examinations. 
      • Centres must still submit an OCR NEA Centre Declaration Form.
      • All monitoring during the 2020/2021 academic year will be carried out remotely. There will be no face-to-face visits. Remote monitoring will not include a lesson observation but teacher records and student work will still need to be inspected.

      AS Level Biology A (H020); AS Level Biology B (H022); AS Level Chemistry A (H032); AS Level Chemistry B (H033); AS Level Physics A (H156); AS Level Physics B (H157) 

      • For students who are on an AS only pathway, if they are unable to carry out practical science work, they are able to observe a demonstration and/or simulation carried out by a teacher or remotely  (for example by watching a demonstration online or a video). 
      • Students who are completing an AS Level as the first year of the two-year A Level course will still be expected to meet the full A Level Practical Endorsement requirements before examinations in June 2022. 
      • A minimum of 15% of the marks in the written examinations will still cover indirect assessment of practical skills. 

      For more information, you can watch our YouTube video: Changes to Assessment in 2021 - AS and A Level Sciences 

      Top of page


      If you have any queries about this update, please call our Customer Support Centre on 01223 553998.

      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • LinkedIn
      • YouTube
      • Instagram

      © OCR

      • Terms and conditions
      • Privacy policy
      • Accessibility
      • Statement on modern slavery
      • Use of cookies
      • Copyright statement

      © OCR