Your questions are answered about this year’s exam results
IT’S BACK TO NORMAL AFTER COVID PANDEMIC
FOR the first time since 2019, youngsters across the country have been sitting traditional A-level and GCSE exams over the past few months.
And in just over a month’s time the first of the results – for A-levels – will be published on Thursday, August 18, followed a week later by GCSE results on Thursday, August 25.
The pandemic led to the cancellation of the written exams in both 2020 and 2021 and instead teacher assessment was used to award grades. But this has led to suggestions that this year’s results will see a fall across the board as last year’s assessment method led to inflated grade barriers.
To compensate pupils for the disruption to their learning from Covid, the Department for Education and the exam watchdog Ofqual decided that candidates should receive some indication of what to expect in the exams this year.
University places are on the line for students receiving A-level results and further education and training places are at stake for those getting their GCSE results. BTEC and other vocational qualifications are also due to be published just before or on August 18.
In 2020 – the first year exams were cancelled – the situation was chaotic after a controversial algorithm was used to calculate results and so teacher assessment was used in 2021.
Many schools will be opening their doors from at least 8am so students can collect A-level results in person and allow them to access clearing if they need to and for those students needing advice after obtaining their GCSE results.
At Derby College, the results from a new vocational qualification T-levels will be available for the first time following completion of the courses by the first students taking them – among the first in the country. Started in 2020, T-levels – T stands for technical – will give 16- to 19-year olds a technical alternative to A-levels. One T-level is equivalent to three A-levels.
Here is more information about A-levels and GCSEs in our handy Q & A:
Q: How are exams being marked this year?
A: For GCSE, AS and A-level qualifications, exam boards will mark students’ completed exam papers, in a return to the traditional method after the past two-year break. Examiners are mostly experienced teachers, who do their marking on-screen. Their work is quality-checked by exam boards to ensure it is consistent and to the required standard. They are marking them currently.
Q: When will the 2022 results be available for students?
A: Thursday, August 18, for A-level students and Thursday, August 25, for GCSE results
Q: Why is it thought the grades will be lower?
A: Results will look different to summer 2021, because the nature of the assessment is different. It will be more meaningful to make comparisons with 2019 results, therefore, because this is when exams were last sat. Results in summer 2022 will be higher than when summer exams were last sat, but lower than in 2021, when grades were awarded by teacher assessment. Schools’ and colleges’ results are highly likely to be lower than in 2021 when exams did not go ahead. Very few schools or colleges, if any, will get higher results than in 2021.
Q: What if pupils are unhappy with their grades?
A: Students will be able to appeal if they believe an error has been made, or they do not believe their grade is a fair reflection of their work.
Appeals will be submitted to the exam boards by schools and colleges on behalf of students. Grades are only likely to be changed if there was an error when determining or submitting it. Students will need to explain why they think their result was incorrect. Grades can go up, down or stay the same.
Q: Will students be able to take resits?
A: Exam boards are due to offer maths and English GCSE resits in November. Usually, complete A-levels can be sat the following June.
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