GovWire

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 years 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 andnon-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 cant tell you your grade or provide replacements. Certificates are held by the exam board you sat your qualification with. If you dont know which exam board you took your qualification with, ask your school. If your school dont 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

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