Guidance

Ofqual: rolling update

Information on qualifications which have been disrupted by coronavirus (COVID-19).

Applies to England

Level 31/2 BTECand Level 2 vocational and Cambridgetechnical Technicalsqualification results

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Ofqual’s receivehelpdesk aopening result.hours are below.

BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results

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

Colleges and schools should contact awarding organisations, and students should contact their college or school.

For updates and help with BTEC qualification results, contact Pearson on 0345 618 0440 or via @PearsonBTEC on social media, or visit Results Day 2022 FAQs.

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

Vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs) 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.

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

ResultsIt foris BTECimportant First,that, Technicalsas andregulator, Techwe Awardreview Qualifications,what andhas Cambridgehappened Nationalsto aremake issuedsure throughoutthat thestudents year.in Morefuture thanyears 350,000receive results havewhen beenthey awardedexpect forthem, Levelso 1/2they andcan Level 2 vocational qualifications since March 2022.

Many students have received results for Level 1/2 and Level 2 qualifications this week, to enable them to progress toin furthertheir study,education, apprenticeshipsapprenticeship and work. These results are normally issued on, or before,employment. 25We August.

Studentswill shouldcontinue talk to theirwork collegeacross orthe schoolsector, ifin theyaddition haveto anyusing queriesour aboutregulatory theirrelationship results.

Forwith updatesawarding onorganisations, BTECto Firsts,this Technical and Tech awards, visit Pearson’s FAQs. For updates on Cambridge Nationals, visit OCR’s website.end.

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.

Exam Results Helpline
Telephone 0800 100 900
National Careers Service website

The phone line is open from 16 to 30 August, from 8am to 10pm.

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.

UCAS
Telephone 0371 468 0 468

The phone line is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30am to 6pm.

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.

Ofqual
Telephone 0300 303 3344
Email public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk

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:

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

For more information, see Ofqual’s student guide to exams and assessments in 2022

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.

For more information see the student guide to exams and assessments in 2022.

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 to get a replacement certificate. If your exam board no longer exists, your certificates will have moved to an existing board. Find out who now holds your certificates.

Contact your exam board

Published 8 July 2021
Last updated 2624 August 2022 + show all updates
  1. Updated information regarding Level 3 BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results and Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational and technical qualification results.

  2. Updated information regarding Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational and technical qualification results & BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results.

  3. An updated statement on delayed BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results.

  4. Details regarding the delayed BTEC and Cambridge Technical results have been added, along with contact details for the relevant awarding organisations.

  5. Added information abour A level and GCSE results weeks in 2022.

  6. Removal of content related to exams and contingency arrangements, now that the 2022 exam summer series has been completed.

  7. Added update: "Checking exam papers"

  8. Added an advice note for students on fake exam papers offered on social media.

  9. Added information on plans for subject content and assessment arrangements next academic year, and on new guidance for awarding organisations on making their assessments accessible.

  10. Updated with additional information for teachers on collecting evidence for use in contingency arrangements.

  11. Added in links to this year's student guide to exams and assessments.

  12. Taking out information regarding the autumn series results days for GCSEs and A levels, which have now passed.

  13. Added information about the support measures available to students taking GCSEs, AS and A levels this year.

  14. Added information on special consideration for Applied Generals, Tech Awards, Tech Certs and Tech Levels in England.

  15. Update to the private candidate section which states that the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) has published a list of schools, colleges and other exam centres that will accept private candidate entries for GCSEs, AS and A levels in summer 2022.

  16. Updated reference to autumn GCSE exams, which have finished.

  17. Added information about January assessments for vocational and technical qualifications.

  18. Updated to include a link through to our guidance for schools, colleges and training providers on awarding vocational and technical qualifications in the academic year 2021 to 2022.

  19. Updated to include information on contingency measures should exams and assessments not go ahead in 2022.

  20. Removing guidance on submitting appeals for GCSEs and A levels as the appeal deadline has passed.

  21. Removed the table advising the dates of results days.

  22. Added note about legal advice being unnecessary when appealing qualification results.

  23. Added links to additional guides about appealing GCSE, AS and A level results and added information about consultations on arrangements for qualifications awarded in 2022.

  24. Added details of 2 consultations for how exams should take place for the next academic year (2021 to 2022).

  25. First published.