Guidance

Ofqual: rolling update

RecentInformation updateson regardingqualifications regulatedwhich qualifications.have been disrupted by coronavirus (COVID-19).

Applies to England

2023Level grading3 BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results

Our Chiefimmediate Regulatorpriority publishedhas plansbeen forto 2023make gradingsure inthat September.Pearson and OCR got results to students promptly, so they can progress. We willhave returnbeen monitoring the situation closely and have asked Pearson and OCR to pre-pandemicgive grading,us butregular withupdates protectionso forthat students.we Thiscan meansbe that,confident broadlythat speaking,they aare typicalswiftly studentissuing whoresults.

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2023

Colleges examand arrangements

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

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Level 21/2 and Level 32 vocational and technical qualification results

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Unhappy with your exam results

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Anxiety and mental health support

We haveunderstand writtenthat tothis schoolshas andbeen collegesa todifficult asktime for evidence,students and continueyou tohave requestshown feedbackgreat fromresilience allin impactedthe partiesface of the challenges presented by the pandemic. Always make sure you speak to informsomebody ourif review.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.

This means that the assessment arrangements for GCSE, AS and A level qualifications being awarded in 2023 will be as follows:

  • for GCSEs in English literature, history, ancient history and geography, students will study and be assessed on all the usual topics and content
  • for dance, design and technology, drama (and theatre), food preparation and nutrition, film studies, media studies, music, music technology, physical education (PE), students will carry out the usual non-exam assessment activities
  • for art and design, students will be assessed by an exam board set task and a portfolio as usual
  • for geography, geology, and science subjects, students will carry out the usual fieldwork and practical science activities
  • for GCSEs in English language, students will carry out spoken language assessments as usual and some of these will be recorded by their teachers
  • for GCSEs in modern foreign languages, students will take formal speaking tests as usual

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

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 1021 OctoberSeptember 2022 + show all updates
  1. Added information on 2023 grading and exam arrangements and updated information on 2022 Level 2 and Level 3 results. Removed information no longer immediately relevant to the rolling update including signposting to appeals information, guidance on producing accessible assessments.

  2. Information about the 2022 summer exam series has been removed as it is no longer relevant. Details about assessment arrangements for GCSE, A level and AS levels in 2023 have been added to the "Subject content and assessment arrangements: 2022 to 2023" section.

  3. Updated information regarding Level 3 BTEC and Cambridge Technicals results and Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational and technical qualification results.

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

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

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

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

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

  9. Added update: "Checking exam papers"

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

  11. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

  17. 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.

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

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

  20. 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.

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

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

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

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

  25. 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.

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

  27. First published.