Ofqual: rolling update

Delayed BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results

As we approach the weekend we realise some of you might worry about what’s happening. Students have shown so much resilience in preparing for and taking their qualifications during the pandemic, and we have every sympathy with any student who expected but has yet to receive a result.

Our focus, and that of the awarding organisations, is on ensuring that students get their results so they can progress. We encourage schools and colleges to work with the awarding organisations to help this to happen. We expect Pearson and OCR to take all necessary steps to resolve these issues as soon as possible. We understand from UCAS that offers will be held open to Wednesday 7 September, though we expect any outstanding results to be returned well before then.

In any year, there is always a small proportion of students who don’t receive their results on results day because there are unresolved issues, which can be for a range of reasons, including at centre level. This year awards for some qualifications are more complex due to the arrangements awarding organisations put in place to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, for example requiring elements undertaken as far back as 2020 to be carried forward.

For updates and help with BTEC, contact Pearson on 0345 618 0440 or via @PearsonBTEC on social media.

For updates and help with Cambridge Technicals, visit the Cambridge Technicals update website or contact support@ocr.org.uk.

Ofqual’s helpdesk opening hours are below.

Exam results 2022

Once you’ve received your results you might be looking for some guidance about what to do next. The Exam Results Helpline from the National Careers Service can talk to you about resits, qualification and subject choices, apprenticeship and careers advice, and gap years.

For any questions you have about university admissions or higher education courses, you should contact the university or college directly. You can also contact UCAS for more information.

Unhappy with your results

If you’re not happy with your results in some subjects, you have the options to appeal your results or retake your exams in those subjects. Your school or college will be able to tell you about the process for both of these.

Ofqual helpdesk opening hours

Our phone lines are open longer on some days during results weeks, and at the weekends.

Date	Opening times
Tuesday 16 August	8am to 6pm
Wednesday 17 August	8am to 6pm
Thursday 18 August	8am to 8pm
Friday 19 August	8am to 8pm
Saturday 20 August	9am to 5pm
Sunday 21 August	9am to 5pm
Monday 22 August	8am to 6pm
Tuesday 23 August	8am to 6pm
Wednesday 24 August	8am to 6pm
Thursday 25 August	8am to 8pm
Friday 26 August	8am to 8pm
Saturday 2627 August	9am to 5pm
Sunday 2728 August	9am to 5pm
Monday 2829 August	9am to 5pm
Tuesday 2930 August	8am to 6pm

Anxiety and mental health support

We understand that this has been a difficult time for students and you have shown great resilience in the face of the challenges presented by the pandemic. Always make sure you speak to somebody if you are feeling anxious or struggling with your mental health. This might be a parent, carer or someone else you trust.

You can also contact:

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
• Mind
• Young Minds
• NHS 111 – they can assist in providing the mental health support you may need

Subject content and assessment arrangements: 2022 to 2023

Ofqual and the Department for Education have confirmed the arrangements for subject content in GCSEs, AS and A levels and non-exam assessment in qualifications taking place in the academic year 2022 to 2023.

New guidance for exam boards on producing accessible assessments

Ofqual has published new guidance for exam boards and awarding organisations on making assessments accessible for students.

The guidance supports awarding organisations to design and develop assessments to meet rules on accessibility. It explains that, in their exams and assessments, awarding organisations should:

• use accessible and appropriate language  
• use clear and consistent layout 
• use source material, context, images and colour in ways that do not disadvantage students 
• consider how Reasonable Adjustments could be made to the exam or assessment to make sure disabled students are not disadvantaged

Guide to exams and assessments in 2022

We have published a guide for students on how GCSEs, A levels, vocational and technical qualifications are graded and awarded this year.

The guide explains what is in place to support you in taking exams and assessments, and provides other information about this year’s arrangements. It is for students taking any of these qualifications:

• GCSEs
• AS or A levels
• other general qualifications, including International Baccalaureate, core mathematics and Pre-U
• vocational and technical qualifications, including T Levels
• a combination of these qualifications

Extra support for summer 2022 GCSEs, AS and A levels

Exams have now been completed for summer 2022, with some changes to exams and non-exam assessments:

• exams will be graded more generously this year – providing a safety net for students
• advance information will help students to focus their revision
• exam boards have provided advance information for exams in most subjects
• students will have a choice of topics or content in some other GCSE subjects
• exam boards will provide a formulae sheet and an updated equation sheet that students will have in their GCSE maths, physics and combined science exams

Vocational and technical qualifications 2022

Results for vocational and technical qualifications in 2022 will be based on the outcome of exams and assessments. Awarding organisations will be allowed to make adaptations to assessments and qualifications, where they need to, due to the pandemic.

In early December we updated our guidance on the awarding of vocational and technical qualifications in the academic year 2021 to 2022. The guidance is for schools, colleges and training providers, and includes information on T Levels, Functional Skills Qualifications and Apprenticeship end-point assessments.

Replacement certificates

Ofqual does not hold copies of your certificates – we can’t tell you your grade or provide replacements. Certificates are held by the exam board you sat your qualification with. If you don’t know which exam board you took your qualification with, ask your school. If your school don’t know you will need to ask each exam board to do a search for you – they will charge you for this.

Contact your exam board

• AQA
• Pearson
• OCR
• WJEC Eduqas