Ofqual: rolling update

Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational and technical qualification results

Results for BTEC First, Technicals and Tech Award Qualifications, and Cambridge Nationals are issued throughout the year. More than 350,000 results have been awarded for Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational qualifications since March 2022.

Some students are expecting results for Level 1/2 and Level 2 qualifications this week, to enable them to progress to further study, apprenticeships and work. These results are normally issued on, or before, 25 August.

Our priority is to make sure that students expecting results this week receive them promptly. We are monitoring closely all awarding organisations due to deliver results this week.

We are in close contact with school and college associations who are working with Awarding Organisations to support getting results out on time to the students who expect them.

Students should talk to their college or school if they have any queries about when they should expect their results.

For updates and help with BTEC qualification results, contact Pearson on 0345 618 0440 via @PearsonBTEC on social media, or visit Pearson’s website.

For updates and help with OCR qualification results, please contact support@ocr.org.uk or visit OCR’s website.

Ofqual’s helpdesk opening hours are below.

BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results

We have everyparticular sympathy withfor students still awaiting results for BTEC and Cambridge Technicals that they were expecting to receive alongsidelast A levels.week.

Our immediate priority is to make sure that Pearson and OCR get results to students promptly, so they can progress. We are monitoring the situation closely and have asked Pearson and OCR to give us regular updates so that we can be confident that they are swiftly issuing results.

Both are processing and issuing results daily. We have asked them to share their updated data publicly in the interest of transparency.

WeColleges continueand toschools liaise,should oncontact aawarding dailyorganisations, basis, with school and collegestudents associationsshould andcontact mettheir this afternoon with college leaders.or We have also engaged with the representatives of exams officers.school.

OurFor firstupdates priorityand ishelp thosewith studentsBTEC expectingqualification resultsresults, thiscontact year.Pearson Buton it0345 is618 important0440 thator wevia review@PearsonBTEC whaton hassocial happenedmedia, toor makevisit sureResults thatDay students2022 in future years receive results when they expect them, so they can progress in their education, apprenticeship or employment.FAQs.

WeFor willupdates continueand tohelp workwith acrossCambridge theTechnicals sector,qualification inresults, additionvisit tothe usingCambridge ourTechnicals regulatoryupdate relationshipwebsite withor awardingcontact organisations, to this end.support@ocr.org.uk.

Vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs),(VTQs) which include BTECs and Cambridge Technicals, come in different shapes and sizes. They are flexible by design, so students can sit individual modules when they are ready, and they can get their results at different times of the year when they have completed the required number of units. These flexibilities are valued by students, employers and schools and colleges. This does mean awards are more complex, and particularly so this year, due to the arrangements put in place to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. This does not, of course, excuse delays where students were expecting to receive results.

ForIt updatesis andimportant helpthat, withas BTEC,regulator, contactwe Pearsonreview onwhat 0345has 618happened 0440to ormake viasure @PearsonBTECthat onstudents socialin media.

Forfuture updatesyears andreceive helpresults withwhen Cambridgethey Technicals,expect visitthem, theso Cambridgethey Technicalscan updateprogress websitein their education, apprenticeship or contactemployment. support@ocr.org.uk.

Ofqual’sWe helpdeskwill openingcontinue hoursto arework below.across the sector, in addition to using our regulatory relationship with awarding organisations, to this end.

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 27 August	9am to 5pm
Sunday 28 August	9am to 5pm
Monday 29 August	9am to 5pm
Tuesday 30 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