Government reveals how GCSEs and A-Levels will be graded
All GCSE and A-level results will be determined by teachers this summer, with school pupils and college students only assessed on what they have been taught, the government has announced.
In addition, results will be awarded slightly earlier in August than usual so anyone who seeks to appeal their grades has enough time to do so.
The move was announced to ensure those working towards GCSE and A-level results this year are not hindered by the school closures brought about by the pandemic.
The main parts of the announcement on how students and pupils will be assessed are:
- Teachers will draw on a range of evidence when determining grades, including the optional use of questions provided by exam boards as well as mock exams and course work such as essays or in-class tests.
- No algorithm will be used to determine any GCSE or A-level result this year and every student will have the right to appeal.
- Teachers will submit grades to exam boards by Friday 18 June, allowing as much teaching time as possible before teachers make assessments.
- Results days for GCSE, A-level and some vocational qualifications will take place during the week beginning 9 August – the second week of the month. Usually, A-level results fall on the second full week of August and GCSEs on the third. The earlier date will provide time for appeals.
- Students studying vocational and technical qualifications (VTQs) - often taught alongside GCSEs and A-levels - will also receive grades assessed by teachers although exams and assessments will continue where needed to demonstrate the necessary professional standard in an occupation.
- Multiple checks will be carried out by schools and colleges to ensure the consistency of teachers’ judgements and exam boards will conduct their own checks through random sampling and targeted scrutiny where needed.
The announcement follows the government’s examinations regulator Ofqual holding its largest ever public consultation with more than 100,000 responses – more than half (52%) from pupils. More details can be found here.
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