DfE and Ofqual announce changes to GCSE, AS and A Level assessments, grading and the timing of results days for summer 2022

The outcome of the joint DfE/Ofqual consultation on changes to the assessment of GCSEs, AS and A Levels exams in summer 2022 has been published today. The consultation decisions ‘are designed to mitigate the impacts of the disruption that students have faced during the pandemic without undermining the value of their qualifications and their ability to progress successfully to further study’.

Alongside changes to assessments covering adaptations and advance information, today’s announcements also include the approach to grading of exams and the timing of results days next summer. While these announcements cover GCSE, AS and A Level, we’d like to remind you that we confirmed our 2021/22 adaptations for Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals on 14 September.

Ofqual and DfE have also announced a short consultation on contingency plans in the event that exams do not go ahead next summer.

We know you’re busy so we’ve summarised the package of measures for summer 2022 exams announced today:

1. Subject specific adaptations (also known as 'optionality' in choice of topics or choice of content)
   
   Adaptations to assessment will apply in the following subjects:
   • GCSE English Literature: Students will have a choice of topics to answer questions on during the exam. This carries forward what was planned for exams in 2021.
   • GCSE History and GCSE Ancient History: Students will have a choice of topics to answer questions on during the exam, as planned for exams in 2021.
   • GCSE Geography: Students will have a choice of content to answer questions on during the exam.
     
2. Changes to the arrangements for practical activities in sciences and assessment in art and design
   
   
   • GCSE, AS and A Level Art and Design: Students will be assessed on their portfolio only.
   • GCSE, and AS Level Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics and Combined Science: Students can observe a demonstration by a teacher, or observe it remotely.
   • A Level Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics: Students do not have to complete 12 practical activities. They can complete a minimum number of activities to demonstrate competence.
3. Advance information
   
   To support student revision, advance information will be provided by exam boards about the focus of content within a specification to be assessed in summer 2022. This will be communicated by 7 February, in advance of the exams, and apply to the majority of subjects at GCSE, AS and A Level as well as Core Maths and Free Standing Maths Qualification FSMQ. Advance information will not apply to subjects where adaptations are available (see list in point 1 above). The advance information provided will vary by subject to reflect their different characteristics. Exam boards will issue guidance for schools and colleges following Ofqual approval and the completion of a technical consultation. Advance information will also be provided for the November 2022 series of exams in GCSE English Language and Maths which will be different from the advance information for summer 2022. Updated 12 October: JCQ has published guidance for teachers on Advance Information. Updated 9 December: to help teachers and students, we've published a summary of what to expect from advance information for OCR qualifications. 
   
   
4. Support materials
   
   We will provide support materials which can be taken into the following exams:
   • GCSE Mathematics and FSMQ exams (a formulae sheet)
   • GCSE Physics and GCSE Combined Science exams (an equation sheet).
5. Non-exam assessment arrangements
   
   As well as the measures announced today, the arrangements for NEA and fieldwork were confirmed in the July 2021 publication of consultation outcomes. 

Please see our update which provides the adaptations and non-exam assessment and fieldwork arrangements for GCSEs, AS and A Levels in summer 2022 by subject in one place.

2023

The changes to assessments published today and listed above apply to summer 2022. It is the intention that exams in 2023 will go ahead as normal.

Summer 2022 grading

Ofqual has today confirmed the approach to grading for summer 2022. The approach is intended to get back to the pre-pandemic standard but not in one jump. 2022 will therefore be a ‘transition year’ that recognises disruption and provides a safety net for students who might otherwise just miss out on a higher grade. Results overall will be higher than in 2019, but not as high as in 2020.The aim is for 2022 to ‘reflect a midway point between 2021 and 2019’ with the ‘aim to return to results that are in line with those in pre-pandemic years’ in 2023.

For students taking exams in autumn 2021 to improve their teacher assessed grades from summer 2021 or who had planned to enter in summer 21 but were unable to obtain a grade, grading will be aligned to summer 2021. This is the same approach taken in autumn 2020.

Results days

To support your planning, summer 2022 results days will be in two weeks in August, as in previous exam years. For summer 2022, these will be:

• Thursday 18 August: A Levels, Cambridge Technicals and other Level 3 qualifications
• Thursday 25 August: GCSEs, Cambridge Nationals and other Level 2 qualifications

Contingency consultation

The DfE and Ofqual also launched a short consultation today about contingencies if GCSE, AS and A Level exams do not go ahead as planned next summer. The proposed contingency for 2022 is a TAGs process similar to that used in 2021. We encourage you to participate in the consultation which closes on 13 October 2021 at 11.45pm. We expect that, if needed, contingency arrangements for Cambridge Nationals and Cambridge Technicals would follow a similar teacher assessed grade approach as proposed for GCSEs and A Levels.

Supporting you

Thank you for your patience this term. We hope this information gives you the clarity you need to plan ahead.

We’re committed to supporting you and your students every step of the way this year. We will provide subject specific support, including webinars, videos and online Q&A sessions, to make sure you and your students are prepared for exams next summer.

We will also continue to provide regular updates via email, on social media, and on our website. Our customer support centre is always here to support you on 01223 553998 or support@ocr.org.uk. Please sign up to receive our weekly email updates, if you haven’t already.