Guidance

Ofqual: rolling update

Recent updates regarding regulated qualifications.

From:
Ofqual
Published
8 July 2021
Last updated
2021 NovemberJanuary 20242025 — See all updates

Applies to England

VTQ information hub: key dates and deadlines

Ofqual has worked with awarding organisations to compile information on key dates and deadlines for vocational and technical qualifications (VTQ) in 2025.  

The VTQ information hub 2024 to 2025 is most relevant to school and college staff working in the administration or delivery of Level 3, Level 1/2 and Level 2 vocational and technical qualifications used for progression. It will help you prepare for the awarding organisation key dates and deadlines ahead of awarding in summer 2025.  

There are deadlines that awarding organisations need centres to meet to ensure the timely delivery of results in August. It is important that centres ensure internal activities take place early enough to ensure the awarding organisation deadlines are met.

Ofqual Student Guide to Exams and Assessments in 2025

Ofqual has produced a guide providing students with information about arrangements for the qualifications we regulate. It explains what you need to know before, during and after your exams and assessments, with information about when assessments will happen, how to prepare, things you must not during an exam, when you can expect your results and what you can do if you think there is a mistake in your results.

We have also published the Ofqual guide for schools and colleges, which explains what schools, colleges and other exam or assessment centres can expect from awarding organisations regulated by Ofqual and the arrangements for qualifications in 2025.

Changes to the assessment of mathematics, physics and combined science GCSEs in 2025, 2026 and 2027

Following a consultation, Ofqual will change its rules to require exam boards to provide students with support materials in the form of formulae and equations sheets for GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

When are my 2025 exams?

GCSE, AS and A level exams will be held between 8 May and 24 June 2025. Students must be available for the whole of the exam period, plus a contingency day on 25 June. Exam board timetables for the 2025 summer exam series of GCSEs, AS and A levels are available on the Joint Council for Qualifications website.

Assessment dates for Vocational and Technical Qualifications (VTQs) and T Levels vary depending on the qualification, with assessments throughout the year. Dates will be available on awarding organisations’ websites. Your school or college will tell you when your exams or assessments are scheduled.

When is results day in 2025?

The date you receive your results will depend on the qualification you are taking, the way it has been assessed, and the awarding organisation. 

You will receive A level, AS and T Level results on Thursday 14 August 2025. 

If you are studying a Level 3 VTQ and are planning to use your results to progress to higher education, you will receive your results on or before Thursday 14 August 2025. 

You will receive GCSE results on Thursday 21 August 2025. 

If you are studying a Level 2 or Level 1/2 VTQ and are planning to use your results to progress to further education, you will receive your results on or before Thursday 21 August 2025. 

Some VTQs are taken on-demand and results for these will be available at different times throughout the year. You can find the date you will receive your qualification results on the website of the relevant awarding organisation, or you can ask your school or college. ##

GCSE results 2024

This guide to GCSE results for England, summer 2024 explains how grading has continued as normal in summer 2024, following the return to pre-pandemic standards last year. Overall GCSE results are similar to summer 2023.

Ofqual has also published infographics summarising the key trends from GCSE results in 2024.

Level 1, Level 1/2 and Level 2 qualification results for vocational and technical qualifications 2024

This guide to the 2024 Level 1, Level 1/2 and Level 2 qualification results for VTQs in England covers Applied General qualifications, T Levels, and other vocational and technical qualifications approved for reporting in the Department for Education performance tables.

Ofqual has also published infographics summarising the key trends from Level 1, Level 1/2 and Level 2 VTQ results in summer 2024.

A level results 2024

This guide to AS and A level results for England, summer 2024 explains how grading has continued as normal in summer 2024, following the return to pre-pandemic standards last year. Overall A level results are similar to summer 2023.

Ofqual has also published infographics summarising the key trends from A level results in 2024.

Level 3 vocational and technical qualifications 2024

This guide to the 2024 Level 3 qualification results for VTQs in England covers Applied General qualifications, T Levels, and other vocational and technical qualifications approved for reporting in the Department for Education performance tables.

Ofqual has also published infographics summarising the key trends from Level 3 vocational and technical qualification results in summer 2024.

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

Ofqual’s find a regulated awarding organisation service contains information and website links for all regulated awarding organisations.

Updates to this page

Published 8 July 2021
Last updated 2021 NovemberJanuary 2024 2025 + show all updates

  1. Added details of VTQ Information Hub 2024 to 2025

  2. Added information about, and links to, the Ofqual Student Guide to Exams and Assessments in 2025 and the Ofqual guide for schools and colleges 2025. Also added details about exam, assessment and results scheduled for 2025.

  4. Updated to reflect the outcome of the consultation on provision of formulae and equation sheets for GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science exams in 2025, 2026 and 2027, and to remove references to the guides to the 2024 exam series.

  6. Added the proposed changes to the assessment of mathematics, physics and combined science GCSEs in 2025, 2026 and 2027 to the rolling update.

  8. Added information about GCSE results 2024, and Level 1, Level 1/2 and Level 2 qualification results for vocational and technical qualifications 2024.

  10. Added information about A level results 2024 and Level 3 vocational and technical qualifications 2024.

  12. Added GCSE 9–1 grades to uni places: What you need to know about 2024 exam results and Grading continues as normal this summer in England. Removed links to older articles.

  14. Updated with details of the removal of the technical qualification accreditation requirement.

  16. Added links to an Ofqual blog about the start of the summer 2024 exam series and a reminder about the risks of malpractice. Removed links to articles abouts summer 2023 results.

  18. Added a link to a letter from the chief regulator to schools and colleges about the summer 2024 assessment series.

  20. Added details of Ofqual's VTQ information hub 2023 to 2024: key dates and deadlines

  22. Information has been added about the 2024 guides for students and for schools and colleges.

  24. Section added pointing users to new information about arrangements for vocational and technical qualification results delivery from 2024 onwards.

  26. Updated to remove information predating summer 2023 results.

  28. New section highlighting publication of guides and infographics about summer 2023 GCSE and Level 1, Level 1/2 and Level 2 VTQ results.

  30. Information added about summer 2023 Level 3 results day.

  32. Updated to provide information on joint communications principles published by the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) and Federation of Awarding Bodies (FAB). Removed section on review of Level 2 and Level 3 results delays, as this has been superseded by another update.

  34. Section added describing the new VTQ information hub for use by schools and colleges.

  36. Update added drawing attention to the publication of Ofqual's statement announcing new deadlines and other measures intended to ensure that awarding organisations issue complete and correct level 3 vocational and technical qualifications (VTQ) results to students in summer 2023.

  38. Updated to include guidance on industrial action

  40. Updated to include outcomes of consultations regarding MFL, formulae and equation sheets and resilience.

  42. 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.

  44. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  58. Added update: "Checking exam papers"

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

  62. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

  74. 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.

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

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

  80. 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.

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

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

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

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

  90. 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.

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

  94. First published.

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