Last week we announced our plans for making sure students taking GCSEs, AS and A levels, as well as extended project qualifications and the advanced extension award in maths, get grades this summer. We published information for teachers, heads of department and heads of centre, a message to students and some guidance which gives answers to common questions.
Today we’ve also published a short film for teachers and another for students to help everyone understand the process better.
In summary, we’re asking schools and colleges to do 2 things for each of their students:
First, to make a judgement about the grade that each student was most likely to have achieved, if they had taken their exams in summer 2020. To do this, they will take account of all available evidence including school and college records, mock exams, and non-exam assessment (NEA) that a student has done.
Second, to rank each student relative to others for who they also judge would have got the same grade. For example, if they judge that 8 students would have been most likely to achieve a grade B at A level or a grade 4 at GCSE, they should rank those 8 students from 1 (the most secure/most likely to achieve the grade) to 8 (the least secure/least likely).
Those judgements should be holistic, based on the range of evidence that schools and colleges have. So students shouldn’t worry about one disappointing mock exam result, if their NEA work wasn’t finished or they haven’t been able to complete to their usual standard – or at all - any work set after schools and colleges closed. Schools and colleges should take all the evidence into account and come to a balanced view.
While schools and colleges do not routinely work in this way, teachers are highly experienced at making assessment decisions and evidence shows they can rank order their students with a high degree of accuracy. Many will already be familiar with ranking students where they do this in subjects with NEA.
Of course, there are some circumstances in which rank ordering will be more challenging – such as in large schools and colleges or in those where students are very similar in terms of performance. We are exploring with exam boards how more support can be given to these centres and we also welcome the professional leadership being shown in centres at this time.
The rank order is an important aspect of standardising grades across schools and colleges. It means if adjustments are necessary to account for more generous or harsh judgements, exam boards can make these more precisely, for just a few students, rather than whole centres or classes.
It’s really important that schools’ and colleges’ submissions are as accurate as possible – the standardisation process will detect overly generous or harsh judgements, whether unintended or otherwise. We’ll be consulting soon on the principles that will underpin exactly how this will all work, so that the standardisation process is the best it can be in delivering the fairest outcomes.
Centre assessment grade judgements need to be made objectively. This is particularly important in addressing the concerns some may have about the possibility for bias in this process and its potential impact on some groups of students, or those with certain characteristics.
Our overriding priority is to ensure that students are rewarded for their hard work. We are sensitive to the research evidence in this area and we are working hard to make this summer’s grading process as fair as possible. We will shortly be publishing an equalities impact assessment of the approach we propose to take this summer as it is crucial that we consider the impact on protected groups in the current circumstances.
The centre assessment grades and the rank orders will need to be discussed and agreed within subject departments in schools and colleges, and signed off by at least two teachers, including the head of department. And before the data is submitted to the exam board, the Head of Centre will also need to sign off the grades and rank orders.
Teachers and heads of department know their students, and they are best placed to make these judgements. We know they are currently working in difficult circumstances and so we urge students and parents not to seek to influence this important task. Schools and colleges will not release grades or rank orders to students, parents or carers, so please don’t ask them to.
We think the approach we set out last week is the fairest in the circumstances. However, it is a new approach and so there are still some details to be agreed. Exam boards are working to adapt their IT systems to collect the data and we are working on the detail of the statistical standardisation approach.
A new approach means that some of our rules need to be changed to capture these unprecedented arrangements. For example, we have a rule that requires exam boards to award grades based only on evidence from exams and non-exam assessments, so that will have to be changed for summer 2020.
And we need to devise new arrangements for things like appeals, and the principles of statistical standardisation; to continue to explore alternative options for private candidates who need results this summer to progress and for whom a centre assessment grade is not possible; and consider plans for Year 10 students.
So we will shortly publish a detailed consultation on a variety of changes to our rules, and revised approaches, to deliver the fairest results for students in the current exceptional circumstances.
Given the nature of this topic, we understand readers may have specific questions or concerns about their particular situation. While it isn’t possible to respond to individual questions via our blog, you can contact our Public Enquiries Team on 0300 303 3344 or via email: public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk
403 comments
Comment by tim brady posted on
Why are you saying nothing about Technical Awards at KS4 or Applied General at KS5 - it is inexcusable to leave half of the students in the country in limbo while communicating only in detail about GCSE and GCE arrangements.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We realise the period since the Secretary of State for Education announced exams and assessments would be cancelled this summer has been an unsettling time for all students and learners, including those taking vocational and technical courses. We’ve updated our guidance to include vocational and technical qualifications and made a further statement about how they will be assessed and awarded.
Comment by Helen posted on
My college has given students no indication to what is going on . I am a BETEC national diploma in art and design student and we are still to date asked to submit new work and home work online for the next 3 weeks . is this right or have we officially finished in March ?
Do I have to keep working ?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
There is no requirement for schools and colleges to ask students for work beyond 20 March. We have also been clear in our information for Heads of Centre that teachers should treat evidence submitted after 20 March with caution. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcses-as-and-a-level-awarding-summer-2020
Comment by Ghada posted on
It isn't fair at all
Comment by Clare posted on
What about guidance to universities and their students with regards to grading and progression? No guidance has been published and many students are worried as they are unsure if they will progress despite putting in the work and effort to be able to do so
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Thanks for your comment – we’re not the regulator for universities, so we’re not best placed to answer this question for you. The Office for Students (OfS) will have more clarity.
Comment by Erica titcomb posted on
My son is a private candidate . However his Tutor is a teacher of mathematics at a secondary school. Please direct all colleges where possible with qualified maths tutors to take the prediction of these tutors into account . We have been paying for private lessons for many months, I’ve paid for the entrance to do the exam and my son is meant to be starting university in September. This is a retake to ensure he his grade in mathematicS to move forward.
Please ensure you treat all students equally. No stone should be left unturned to gather evidence.
Also When will advise be issued for BTEC students?
Kind regards
Erica Titcomb
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Thank you for your comment. We appreciate that this is a matter of real concern to private candidates and will provide an update as soon as possible. We have asked organisations that represent higher and further education providers to consider the steps that providers could take when making admissions decisions this summer for any private candidates who do not receive a grade. They have told us that they believe that institutions will consider a range of other evidence and information for these students to allow them to progress wherever possible. We have stated that Heads of Centre should include private candidates in their centre's rank order submission if they have seen enough evidence from them to be able to make an accurate grading judgement.
With regard to BTECs, we have published further guidance which states that as far as possible, these qualifications should be treated in the same way as GCSEs, AS and A levels, with learners receiving a calculated result. Awarding organisations will be in touch with schools, colleges and training providers in the coming weeks to advise them on the information they will be expected to provide about their learners, and when and how it should be submitted.
Comment by Jasmine Cheng posted on
My son is a private student and waiting for the summer results to move forward/progress to university. I have been paying significant private tution fees for months. It will be unfair to leave the private students not to be graded for whatever reasons. They should be treated equally as the others. Delay one further year to University create tremendous mental and financial stress for the whole family not just an individual private candidate given the current economic downturn.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are expecting exam boards to publish more detail tomorrow on options for private candidates.
Comment by Bindhu Augustine posted on
My daughter also a private A level resit student .
she was with her school since year 7 and she has mis the grade last year A level . This year her school predicted same grade and she got offer from Manchester university to do medicine . But due to this condition , she got an email from school today saying as a private student they don’t have evidence . They can’t predict grade . She selected her school as centre but she studies at home with tutor. They have all the evidence since her studies . They have predicted and supported her application . Now I don’t know what to do .
So I don’t about her university. No proper guidance . Please treat them as normal to avoid disadvantage. She is been working hardly since 8 months to do exam to her dream to be doctor. Please advice .
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Please see further information about arrangements for private candidates published on 5th May, following our consultation: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ofqual-publishes-initial-decisions-on-gcse-and-a-level-grading-proposals-for-2020
Comment by michele bishop posted on
These proposals leave private candidates high and dry. My son is a private candidate because he has had a year of illness and been working from home. It is discriminatory practice and leaves someone already struggling at a further disadvantage.
Comment by Clair Blackett posted on
Please also consider year 12 students. You have mentioned year 10. These students will have missed a significant amount of teaching which will impact their results next year.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We know the COVID-19 outbreak will have caused stress and uncertainty for many students, regardless of whether or not they were due to take exams this year. It is too soon to say what level of impact this will have on their performance in in exams in 2021, but if the evidence suggests that the performance of next year’s GCSE, AS and A level students is lower than expected, we will work with exam boards to ensure they are not unfairly disadvantaged by these circumstances. If you haven’t already – please take a look at the guidance published on our website as it has lots of information that may answer any other questions you might have.
Comment by Mehek posted on
Do the year 12 still have to sit an exam to determine they’re place in year 13?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We have no such requirement, although individual schools and colleges might put those requirements in place.
Comment by Kat posted on
I’m interested to understand how these measures account for late surge students, often boys, who pick up the pace late and achieve higher grades. There is much talk about students being graded for their hard work to date but how will it work for those who have a propensity of not working until the 11th hour?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We know that all students work differently – some perform best in non-exam assessment or mock exams, others perform at their best in final exams. This is why it is so important that schools and colleges make holistic judgements about the grades they believe their students would have most likely achieved had they been able to complete their assessments. We will ask teachers to use their professional expertise to draw on the full range of available evidence rather than solely assigning grades based on performance in a mock exam, for example. We’ve issued some detailed guidance on our website about the approach that is being taken and how grades will be determined.
Comment by Sarah posted on
I agree with Kat. Students, often boys and ethnic minorities do significantly better than their predicted or Mock exam grades. T With this in mind, are you going to use statistical data from GCSEs for this cohort?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We will be using a range of statistical data to standardise grades across centres - there's more detail in the consultation we published yesterday - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020
Comment by Sarah e posted on
Is it a real consultation? It is not clear that our views will be taken into account. Are Ofqual Planning to go ahead with proposed plans to award grades, regardless of the views and feedback expressed in the consultation questionnaire? In which case why bother?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are not consulting on whether calculated grades should be issued this summer, which is in line with the policy direction given by the Secretary of State. If calculated grades were not issued, it would likely mean that around 1 million students would not have results to allow them to progress to the next stage of their education, training or employment. We have worked quickly to develop the arrangements for summer 2020 so that schools and colleges know what is expected of them. In developing the arrangements, we have already consulted with a variety of representative groups, and have sought views from those representing students.
We explained when we published our information document that we would consult on a number of the implementation decisions we must take, including which students should receive calculated grades and what appeal rights there should be, as well as the necessary changes to our regulatory framework. The consultation sets out those areas, and asks for views. Please do read it and submit a response. We welcome your views.
Comment by Sarah posted on
Thank you Ian, I apologise, I don’t think I was clear in my question.
I wanted clarification that views gathered in the consultation would be taken into account before any final decisions are made about administering and awarding grades and appealing if not happy with given grades.
Thank you for clarifying that this is indeed the case.
We feel strongly that students should be allowed to appeal their given grades as an individual, which is not the case in the suggested guidelines at present. We have also have commented on the exam series in September, will these exams take into account the gaps in knowledge due to whole syllabus not having been taught.
In addition there is no marking training, no moderation and no marking of exam papers, so why do students have to wait until mid August to get their results?
Thanks
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We have considered very carefully whether the results could be issued earlier than the published results days. Exam boards are having to re-develop their IT systems to collect the required data from schools and colleges, and also to run the statistical standardisation exercise. To deliver results any earlier than the published dates significantly increases the risk that results cannot be delivered safely for all students.
Comment by Yvonne posted on
Has anything come out about BTECs, function skills and if year 10s are being withdrawn from all exams??
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We have published further information about vocational and technical qualifications - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/awarding-vocational-and-technical-qualifications-this-summer and we are consulting on the question of whether to issue grades to students in year 10 and below – please take a look and give us your views https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020.
Comment by nargas ahmed posted on
dear ofqual, many thanks for your transparency on the matter to date.
I just wanted to mention that it is imperative that students are given a fair and equal opportunity to begin university in this academic year, IF they do the Autumn exam.
My son and I have been feeling rather anxious as there have been talks of
students’ offers being deferred as a result of autumn exams not being marked in time for University start dates, especially for medicine courses.
we hope you take this into consideration, as it is the case for many students out there.
thank you.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are aware of these issues and we, and the Department for Education, are talking to higher education representatives.
We will publish more information on the timing of an autumn series as soon as we can.
Comment by Stephen Leak posted on
What about university students?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We don't regulate universities - the Office for Students are the best place to approach if you have concerns about university exams.
Comment by Rachel Rowland posted on
Year 10 Students who have prepared to take their GCSEs this summer alongside year 11 students should be treated in exactly the same way. They have also spent 2 years studying these subjects. They will be selecting new subjects for accelerated study in one year, to be examined next summer. These students do not have time on their timetables to keep studying subjects they were due to be examined on this summer. It will put the current Y10 at a distinct disadvantage or force them to reduce the number of GCSEs they are entered for through no fault of their own.
Year 10 must be treated in the same way as Year 11.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are consulting on the question of whether to issue grades to students in year 10 and below – please take a look and give us your views https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020.
Comment by Marie Wall posted on
We are keen to hear the response with regards to Year 10 candidates. We have designed the curriculum around candidates taking some exams in year 10 and the students will be disadvantaged in this subject due to no subject input for the next year and also a possible term away from school means this year group will be so behind and disadvantaged greatly.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
This will be one of the key issues in our consultation to be published very shortly.
Comment by saba posted on
In my college, we take most of our exams in year 10. However, the college goes under IGCSE examinations rather than GCSE but we were registered to sit the examinations this year all the same. How will this situation be handled? It will put a large strain on students for their future years in education, all because they don't turn 16 in this academic year...
The only reasonable solution would be to give them predicted grades as well.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Ofqual does not regulate International GCSEs so we suggest you contact the awarding organisation direct.
Comment by Huy Duong posted on
There seems to be no mechanism to allow for the random variation from year to year. With the small numbers in each grade for each subject at each school, the fluctuations for these numbers are likely to be considerable. Trying to force one cohort into the average of previous cohorts is likely to be unfair.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We know that results for individual schools with relatively small cohorts can vary from one year to the next, but for large-entry subjects, there is generally less variation, and across all schools nationally the proportion of students at each grade is relatively stable from one year to the next.
We will take this into account in considering the model to be used for standardisation, so that it is fair to this year's students.
Comment by Huy Duong posted on
No substitute for the exams can be a fair substitute for every individual, even if it might be fair on average. The students are individuals, not statistics. To safeguard fairness for the individuals, they should be given the choice of either going with the substitute or take the exams at a later date. Furthermore, if a student choses the latter and achieves the grades offered by a university, the government should require that that university honour the offer.
Comment by Sarah-Jane Mackenzie posted on
My Son has been home schooled since June 2019 due to severe anxiety. He was given predicted GCSE grades in Year 9 from his school and since them he has been home schooled by 3 external tutors for Maths, English Lit, English Lang & Science, then i have taught him Business Studies. Would you accept letters from his tutors together with his predicted grades in order to grade him? Thank you for your help.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Where centres have accepted entries from private candidates, those students should be included where the Head of Centre is confident that they and their staff have seen sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgement.
You may wish to contact the school to ask whether they will be able to do this. However, if they have not seen his recent work, that might not be possible. We are urgently exploring whether there are alternative options for those students who do not have an existing relationship with a centre. We will provide an update as soon as we can.
Comment by Susanne posted on
Hi, I’d like to know how independent, homeschooled A level students will get a fair solution to this?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Where centres have accepted entries from private candidates, those students should be included where the Head of Centre is confident that they and their staff have seen sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgement.
We are urgently exploring whether there are alternative options for those students who do not have an existing relationship with a centre and who need results this summer for progression purposes but unfortunately this is unlikely to be possible for all external candidates, some of whom may instead need to take exams in the autumn to get their grades. We will provide an update as soon as possible.
We have asked organisations that represent higher and further education providers to consider the steps that providers could take when making admissions decisions this summer for any private candidates who do not receive a grade. They have told us that they believe that institutions will consider a range of other evidence and information for these students to allow them to progress wherever possible.
Comment by Hamza Reggane posted on
So as a private candidate with no relationship with my exam centre, unlike those given a grade this summer I have to be forced to take an exam and am not even offered a grade to be taken.
It's rather unfair that we private candidates don't even get the opportunity to be given a grade and in fact have to do an exam where many will not. It is rather disappointing that the examining board won't take the initiative to check the students past grades and relations with previous school to see if they are capable or likely to achieve predicated grades.
I really feel this has to be changed.
Comment by Lisa posted on
I am interested in knowing how this will work in grammar schools where the children are going to be at a similar level.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
In developing this guidance, we have consulted with representatives from schools and colleges, including selective schools.
They told us that it will be more challenging to put students into an overall rank order where they are more similar in terms of their achievement to date.
However, they have also told us that teachers are experienced in making these sorts of judgements, which they do every day as part of their jobs and so we believe that the task will be manageable.
Comment by Lisa posted on
Hi Ian
I am sorry but I don’t think that really answers my question. If my child was in a secondary school his likelihood of gaining a score Eg 7 would be higher as there are likely to be less children at that score. In a grammar school because the children are at a similar level he could be disadvantaged as there are more children who are likely to get a 7 than lower. How can the ranking of the children in two types of school be compared? I don’t see how the same way of ranking would work.
Thank you for your initial response.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
The ranking of students within a school will be used where an adjustment needs to be made to the school’s grades submitted, to bring it into line with other schools nationally. For example, if the school is more generous than others, then some students ranked lower in a grade would be adjusted down. The ranking will be used within a school, not compared across different schools.
Comment by Erin posted on
Home educated students who are taught by a parent are not going to be able to get a grade with this system as far as I or my daughters exam centre can see. Yet again we're penalised for a failing education system that doesn't support all plus we personally pay through the nose for exams (over £635.00 paid which we will not get back as centres and the exam board will charge admin fees for the work already done!! Disgusting!!
Comment by Trina Wright posted on
When will students find out what grades they’ve been given?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Results won’t be any later than the dates they were expected to be - 13 August for A level and 20 August for GCSE - but they may be issued a little earlier, so students can have the certainty they need. We will confirm as soon as we can.
Comment by Shazia posted on
Don’t you think the grades should be given before August as for the children that don’t get the grades they needed have enough time to put their heads down to study, giving the grades in end August and then expected to take exams in autumn it don’t give them enough time to prepare for exams.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We have considered very carefully whether the results could be issued earlier than the published results days. Exam boards are having to re-develop their IT systems to collect the required data from schools and colleges, and also to run the statistical standardisation exercise. To deliver results any earlier than the published dates significantly increases the risk that results cannot be delivered safely for all students.
Comment by Yussuf posted on
Hi what about private condedate
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Where centres have accepted entries from private candidates, those students should be included where the Head of Centre is confident that they and their staff have seen sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgement.
We’re exploring whether there are alternative options for those students who do not have an existing relationship with a centre and who need results this summer for progression purposes. We will provide more information very soon.
Comment by Leah posted on
Hi Ian,
My daughter is schooled via an online company with registered teachers. Today her exam centre said they’re refusing to sign off as they can’t rank her. The schooling company contacted them to say they have teachers grades and mocks available and they are still refusing. Please can you direct me to someone I can formally complain to. My daughter isn’t going to be penalised because she’s home schooled. She’s been crying all day as they seem to think it’s ok to say sit the exams later. Her college placement is conditional on her grades.
Kind regards
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Please contact our Public Enquiries team about this, and they will do their best to help. Their email address is public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk, or you can call them on 0300 303 3344.
Comment by Clare posted on
We have the same issue here - a private a level resit candidate due to sit one exam at previous school where she was a pupil for 7 years. School have said a blanket no to viewing evidence from a tutorials centre where she has been registered since sept 2019, claiming “no existing relationship” and advice on “sufficient evidence” not clear enough.Uni advise as the course is a professional one and heavily oversubscribed that will not admit her without a grade.
Comment by Mafaz Ali posted on
What about private candidates ,who were self preparing?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Where centres have accepted entries from private candidates, those students should be included where the Head of Centre is confident that they and their staff have seen sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgement.
We are urgently exploring whether there are alternative options for those students who do not have an existing relationship with a centre and who need results this summer for progression purposes. We will provide more information very soon.
Comment by Ali posted on
What are the plans for Y10’s who were entered for GCSE exams this summer?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
This will be one of the key issues covered in our planned consultation which is due to be published very shortly.
Comment by NZ posted on
How will you honour all the hard work that private candidates put in ? Or will you just write off all their hard work and independent study ?
You and schools / colleges owe it to private candidates to consult with private tutors for evidence of grade working at if available .
DO NOT SELL PRIVATE CANDIDATES SHORT.
They should not be penalised
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Where centres have accepted entries from private candidates, those students should be included where the Head of Centre is confident that they and their staff have seen sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgement.
We are urgently exploring whether there are alternative options for those students who do not have an existing relationship with a centre and who need results this summer for progression purposes, but we have to make sure that any options are manageable and fair to all students who were due to take exams this summer. We will provide more information very soon.
Comment by Sofia Sabah posted on
Thank you for your response. By what date can we expect to have some clarity on the matter. My daughter was due to give her exams with the British Council. Will that be the ‘centre’ in her case to gather evidence?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
No problem at all. Our Public Enquiries team may be able to offer you some further detail - contact them via email on public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk.
Comment by Louise Clift posted on
What about vocational courses? My son is a media student. He cant get out to film his project for his final major project No access to teaching staff and resources. He is worried sick not knowing what's going to happen and struggling to continue college work without support.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We published and update about vocational and technical qualifications last week. You can read about what arrangements are being put in place here - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/awarding-vocational-and-technical-qualifications-this-summer
Comment by Louise Clift posted on
Thank you. When can we expect to see the full list of included courses? At the moment we are still in the dark as we dont know which courses will not be included in this .
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We will be publishing further information on our proposals for grading of VTQs this summer in the coming days.
Comment by J Hutchinson posted on
Specifically for GCSEs which exist with separate TIERS of entry (i.e. GCSE Combined Science) will we need to provide
ranking for students within their tier of entry
OR
ranking for all students within a grade regardless of their tier of entry?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
You will need to make a judgement about the grade you believe each student would have achieved, which should be a grade appropriate for the tier of entry (9 to 3 on higher, 5 to 1 on foundation, or 9-9 to 4-3 for combined science higher, 5-5 to 1-1 for combined science foundation).
The rank order for each grade (for example 4-4 for combined science) should include students entered for both tiers, so that there is a single rank order for the subject.
Comment by Natalie posted on
With Combined Science GCSE, how can we rank those taking different tiers within the same grade? We would be very confident that a strong Foundation student would be on for getting 55, whereas a Higher student at a 55 is by the very nature of following Ofqual guidance a less confident student (they are someone we had been hoping would really make the very best of the last 2 1/2 months and possibly get 65, but current best evidence would say they are not there). who should rank above who?
Please provide Heads of Science with more guidance on this, or we will adopt different approaches and the results, data and therefore outcomes for young people will be flawed
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
For each student, you should make a judgement about the grade they would have been most likely to achieve on the basis of the evidence you had seen to date. Then, for all students who you judge would have been most likely to achieve, for example, a 5-5, you should rank them from those you are most confident would achieve that grade to those you are least confident about (which might not necessarily reflect the tier of entry). These judgements should be made on the basis of the evidence you have of the student’s work up to 20 March.
Comment by Wendy posted on
I have just had advise from an exam board which contradicts this, asking me to rank the tiers separately. Can you please clarify for GCSE maths how the students should be ranked within tiers?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We’ll pick this up with exam boards, but you should rank the subject as a whole, not separately by tier.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Students should be ranked only within the subject, not within tiers.
Comment by James Hutchinson posted on
From Ofqual today 28th April
For subjects with entry tiers, it’s not yet clear whether teachers will need to produce two rank order lists, one for Foundation and one for the Higher Tier. We’re working with the other exam boards and with Ofqual to clarify the details for this and we’ll be back in touch when we know the answer.
Ian you seemed very definite... were you mistaken?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We have had ongoing discussions with the exam boards but it has been agreed that there will be a single rank order for the subject.
Comment by Claire Standring posted on
Good Morning
With regards to the GCSE Tier Level subjects, will exams boards require the grade submission for these tiered subjects separated into higher and foundation tiers?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
For tiered subjects, exam boards will ask for a single rank order for the subjects. For the overlap grades 5, 4 and 3 (5-5, 5-4, 4-4, 4-3 for combined science) you will need to rank students on higher and foundation tiers together.
Comment by MC posted on
What about any art work part of the portfolio that has not been submitted yet as it was not due to be submitted until the students returned to school after Easter? What is the position? Does it need to be finished and handed in? Does it need to be handed in ? Please clarify the position.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Schools and colleges will not need to ask students to complete any unfinished non-exam assessment work for the purposes of grading.
The work done so far will be used by schools and colleges to judge each student’s grade and rank order.
Comment by Dean Rowley posted on
Hi
What about moderation of art work for GCSE. We normally moderate and tank them into groups before entering their data onto the exam board system. Is this still the situation given that moderation visits will not be able to happen?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
There will be no moderation this year, so you will need to provide a centre assessment grade for each students, and a rank order of students within each grade.
Comment by A posted on
What about the 130000 that sit gcses early and need their gcse(s) graded to continue their planned education
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
This will be one of the key issues in our planned consultation, to be published very shortly.
Comment by Logan Paul posted on
This also applies to igcse?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Cambridge IGCSEs are no longer regulated by Ofqual. Questions about IGCSEs are best to be directed to your school/college, or contact Cambridge International.
Comment by ms karen Roberts posted on
what about edexcel igces? They say they are looking to you for guidance.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We do not regulate these qualifications, and although Pearson may choose to follow a similar approach as we have set out for GCSEs, we have no remit to provide specific guidance regarding their international GCSEs.
Comment by Glen Whalley posted on
When will arrabgements be put in place for vocational qualufucations such as Functional Skills & Asdan?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We published more information last week about vocational and technical qualifications, including BTECs. You can read the latest update here - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/awarding-vocational-and-technical-qualifications-this-summer
Comment by ms karen Roberts posted on
Singling out Years 10s is not equal nor fair and is not propsed by Gavin Williamson in his letter to Sally Collier dated 31st March. Universally unpopular and causing unnecessary complication and stress for foreseeable future.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Our planned consultation will be published very shortly and this will be one of the key issues covered.
Comment by ms karen Roberts posted on
but you have instructed exam centres to withdraw younger entries and the cut off date is next week - before the outcome of your consultation.
Schools will be forced to follow your direction or lose £1000s in exam fees. If they withdraw their Year 10s, then those students will not be able to get accredited grades which renders the consultation useless and unfair.
Ofqual has already had a very clear indication of public views on the Year 10 proposal. No need for delay, wasting resources and causing more stress.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Please do send us your views through the consultation - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020
Comment by Shirley wharton posted on
What happening with btec results dance colleges
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We published more information last week about vocational and technical qualifications, including BTECs - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/awarding-vocational-and-technical-qualifications-this-summer
Comment by Shirleywharton posted on
Update please
Comment by Mrs Amy Stanley posted on
It is essential that year 10s already entered get their qualifications. Some are absolutely essential for their next steps.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
This is one of the key issues we will be consulting on. More information about this consultation will be published shortly.
Comment by Mrs Amy Stanley posted on
It is crucial for year 10 students who have been entered for GCSEs to receive their qualifications this summer as promised.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
There is more information about our proposals for grading year 10 learners in the consultation that we launched yesterday. Please take a look here and submit a response - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020
Comment by Francis Uy posted on
What about the GCSE resit exams for Maths for summer 2020? And how will they be graded?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
If you have been studying at a school or college for the re-sit, then the school/college will include you in the grades that they submit to the exam board.
If you have entered for the re-sit as a private candidate, the school/college can include you if the teachers are confident that they have seen sufficient evidence of your achievement to make an objective judgement.
Comment by Francis Uy posted on
Does this mean that GCSE resit exams will receive a predicted grade, since the Summer exams 2020 is cancelled?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
If you've been studying for your resit at a school or college this year, you will be included in the grades that are submitted to the exam board.
Comment by JFlint posted on
Do schools need to rank students resitting Maths and English GCSEs within their main cohort of Year 11s taking the exams or rank within the resit cohorts only?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Schools should first make a judgement about the grade each student would have been most likely to achieve if they had taken their exams, based on the evidence of their performance. Then, for all students (for all year groups) who are judged likely to achieve, for example, a grade 4, they should rank those from the student they are most confident would achieve the grade to those they are least confident about. The school should include all students in one overall rank order.
Comment by Fahimah Araf posted on
Are schools obligated to enter an estimated grade for AS-Levels and GCSE resits or can they take the option of ensuring all of these pupils do the Autumn Series exam, since their next stage of study is not adversely affected so there is no immediate need for estimated grades?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
For further information, please contact the Ofqual public enquiries team on 0300 303 3344 or by email at enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk
Comment by Bettina Williams posted on
I have a child who has already taken some exams as an external candidate he has had his first exam at 13, gaining an A*. He is now in college, completely his remaining exams in year 11. College have known him for 18 weeks. His strong point is working under pressure in exam conditions. I feel that there is absolutely no way that he can be getting a fair grade under this year’s rules.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Where centres have accepted entries from private candidates, those students should be included where the Head of Centre is confident that they and their staff have seen sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgement.
You will need to contact the college to see if they are able to include your son in the grades they will be submitting.
If they do include him and he feels that the grade he receives does not reflect his ability, he will be able to take the exams, either in the autumn or next summer.
Comment by Manshi Gopala posted on
I am resiting my alevel this year, throughout the year off I have been tutored by fully qualified teachers that have been working in schools. I also have a strong relationship with my exam centre as this was my secondary school that I attended since year 7. Are my tutors able to provide me with the grades?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Where centres have accepted entries from private candidates, those students should be included where the Head of Centre is confident that they and their staff have seen sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgement.
You will need to contact your tutors to see if they will be able to submit a grade for you.
Comment by Clare posted on
We have a scenario where tutor will submit a grade and evidence but exam centre ( previous school) claim no existing relationship and will not consider it !
Comment by Tanya Constable posted on
Are you joking don’t you think they have been through enough.
1) They will never know their personal best
2) They will never enjoy study leave
3) They will never get the last day
I think they should be allowed to take the year again, not fair
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Unfortunately, the current circumstances are beyond our control.
Given the Government's decision to close schools and cancel this summer's exams, we are putting in place what we believe are the fairest arrangements so that students can progress to the next stage of their education or training.
Comment by carole doughty posted on
Most helpful. Thank you.
Comment by L Tribe posted on
Well done all, you are clearly working extremely hard to get these procedures in place and issue clear guidance and information.
Comment by Lisa Monteith posted on
There is nothing here that addresses the significant number of children that are home schooled. You are currently discriminating against this group of children and causing them additional stress and anxiety. They have an equal right to timely information as those children in a school setting.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We appreciate that private candidates are anxious to know how these arrangements apply to them.
Where centres have accepted entries from, for example, home-schooled students, where the Head of Centre is confident that they and their staff have seen sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgement, they should provide a centre assessment grade for those students and include them in the rank order.
We are urgently exploring whether there are alternative options for those students who do not have an existing relationship with a centre and we hope to provide more information on possible options very soon.
Comment by Robert Bell posted on
I trust this will not largely be a simple application of norm-referencing. Smaller cohorts will produce significant deviations and for many reasons.
Teachers take great pride in the accuracy of their predictions. I do not envy you for the task that you now face.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
The approach that we plan to take to standardise grades across different centres is not norm-referencing, where a pre-determined percentage of students are awarded each grade.
Statistical standardisation will not change the rank order of students within each centre; nor will it assume that the distribution of grades in each subject/centre should be the same.
However, if grading judgements in some schools and colleges appear to be more severe or generous than others, exam boards will adjust the grades of some or all of those students upwards or downwards accordingly.
Comment by Eileen Picton posted on
I wonder if you could direct me to someone who might be able to give advice. I work in a local authority and have responsibility for making sure we have educational provision for children/ young people with EHC plans. We currently have 2 young people studying for GCSEs with an on line learning provider. I have been trying , unsuccessfully so far, to identify an exam centre which would accept them as external candidates. This was something I was continuing to explore when we went into lockdown. I am now concerned that although they have worked hard for 2 years these two young people will not be able to get a qualification because I had not yet managed to register them. Any advice?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Thanks for your comment – as your question is quite detailed we have passed it on to our Public Enquiries team, as they may be able to answer your enquiry in a little more detail or signpost you to other organisations that could assist. If you need to contact them their number is 0300 303 3344, and their email address is public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk.
Comment by Eileen Picton posted on
thanks very much, Ian. i appreciate your help.
Comment by Sandy posted on
What will happen to private candidates if their exam centre is not willing to support grading for students? Many home ed children have SEN and really need their grades like everyone else. Please come up with a plan for them as well. They already feel let down by the education system and need support moving on in September
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Where centres have accepted entries from private candidates, those students should be included where the Head of Centre is confident that they and their staff have seen sufficient evidence of the student’s achievement to make an objective judgement.
We are urgently exploring whether there are alternative options for those students who do not have an existing relationship with a centre and who need results this summer for progression purposes. We will provide more information very soon.
Comment by Ma posted on
I would be interested to hear about plans there are for year 12s as well as year 10s
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We propose to treat year 12 students in the same way as year 11s or year 13s and for results to be based on centre assessment grades that have been standardised nationally.
Comment by Erica posted on
Thank you for your response to my earlier comment.
I fail to understand why private tutors who are qualified teachers and already working in the secondary education system cannot be consulted in regard to private candidates. It should be mandatory for centres to approach qualified tutors.
Kind regards
Erica Titcomb
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Heads of Centres submitting marks must be confident in the judgements of the grades and rank order submitted, and they will need to be signed off by two teachers in the centre. Where Heads are confident that their staff have seen enough of a private candidate’s work over the course to be able to make a judgement and include them in the centre’s rank order, they can do. However, if the tutor is not a member of their staff, they would be reliant on the tutor’s judgement alone, which is not sufficient for other students in the centre.
Comment by Sk posted on
But this feedback/ evidence from private tutors can be checked by an independent tutor to form fair judgements
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
For a Head of Centre to include a private candidate in their overall rank order, they will need to be confident in the grade and rank order judgements. That will be more difficult where their own staff have not seen the work of the student, even if others have reviewed that work. However, we are expecting exam boards to publish more detail tomorrow on options for private candidates.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
For a Head of Centre to include a private candidate in their overall rank order, they will need to be confident in the grade and rank order judgements. That will be more difficult where their own staff have not seen the work of the student, even if others have reviewed that work. However, we are expecting exam boards to publish more detail today on options for private candidates.
Comment by JT posted on
Hi, is there any further guidance regarding Entry level qualifications?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We will be publishing further information on our proposals for grading of VTQs this summer in the coming days.
Comment by Huy Duong posted on
For the purpose of of moderation the grades predicted by the teachers, it seems that the ranking within each grade does not contain enough information. The ranking does not tell us how far apart the students are. Eg, two schools each predicts that 5 of its students will get A* in a subject and rank them from 1 to 5, but in school X there is hardly any difference between the 2 students ranked 4 and 5, while in school Y that difference is larger. It looks like the moderation process does not account for that.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are currently looking at a range of different approaches that will use the information provided by schools in different ways. We considered asking schools for data that reflected the separation between students, similar to that which you suggest. The most critical information is, however, the order in which students are ranked, so that, if an adjustment is required to the grades submitted, it is clear the order in which those grades should be awarded. In that situation, the separation of students is less important. We are also aware of the challenge of supporting schools to make grading judgements in a consistent way. If we were to require them to also provide judgements as to the degree of separation (in effect sub-grades) we could not assume that these judgements were consistent between schools.
Comment by Samir posted on
If students don't feel the grade they have received is fair, other than the appeal is there anything else a student can do to achieve the grade they want. Such as taking the exam at a later date.
Thank you!
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Exam boards are still finalising arrangements for an autumn series, but our expectation is that students will be able to choose to enter one or more subjects then, if they would like the chance to achieve a different grade.
Comment by Amandad posted on
If they are unhappy with their given grade and do choose to take an exam (if possible) do they then forfeit their given grade for the exam result or will the best grade stand?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
If students choose to take the exam at a later date, their calculated grade from summer 2020 will still stand, in the same way as any other grade. They will be able to use the better of the two grades in any subsequent application.
Comment by Sarah e posted on
Hi Samir, as a student you will not be able to appeal, if you feel this is unfair fill in consultation.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
'We've not yet finalised arrangements for appealing grades in summer 2020. This forms part of our consultation, which is open until 29 April - please take a look and respond if you'd like to - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020.
Comment by B Benninton posted on
Is there a cut off date beyond which work from candidates cannot be used as evidence?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We have been clear that there is no requirement for students to complete work after schools were closed on 20 March and that no student should be disadvantaged if they were unable to complete any work set after that date. We have also made clear that where additional work has been completed after schools and colleges were closed on 20 March, Heads of Centre should exercise caution where that evidence suggests a change in performance. In many cases this is likely to reflect the circumstances and context in which the work is done.
Comment by John posted on
Could there be more clear language used in the directive? This is open to a lot of interpretation from centres!
Comment by Mark posted on
Independent schools have a financial incentive to keep year 11 cohort working (and therefore paying fees) Antectdotally at least 2 schools I know of are doing so by suggesting this work will improve student grades. This is clearly unfair to state school students who have no such option open to them pist 20th March.
Comment by Mark posted on
Still awaiting a reply to the above on Independent schools requiring students to continue working? Any chance of a response?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
There is no requirement for schools to ask students for work beyond 20 March when schools closed. We have also been clear in our information for Heads of Centre that teachers should treat evidence submitted after 20 March with caution.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcses-as-and-a-level-awarding-summer-2020
Comment by S posted on
Thankyou for so many answers. Question if you can help please, keep hearing of some schools still setting work and mocks so that grades can be worked out. Is this going to affect the grading of schools who have not done this and are using data up to 20th March. How will you know whether some grades from some schools are higher because they have used additional results I.e mocks done at home will not have the same result as those completed in school with exam conditions
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
There is no requirement for schools to ask students for work beyond 20 March when schools closed. We have also been clear in our information for Heads of Centre that teachers should treat evidence submitted after 20 March with caution. So that the final grades awarded are as fair as possible, exam boards will standardise the judgements across different centres once they have been submitted, using a statistical methodology developed in conjunction with Ofqual. For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcses-as-and-a-level-awarding-summer-2020
Comment by S posted on
Thank you for your response. Whilst we understand that teachers are not supposed to use work after 20th March, have heard that some schools are still setting work and mocks just so that they can grade the students using this information as well. How will Heads of Centre know if what has been submitted is also including work marked after 20th March. Apparently the extra work that has been set is because the curriculum had not been completed,, but surely this is the case for most students taking GCSE and A levels. If grades are given on mocks completed at home, they will not reflect the same result as a mock taken under exam conditions. Concerned that students who have not continued with work afer 20th March and are being marked upto that date as advised, could be disadvantaged against students who are having additional work and mocks completed not under exam conditions and therefore possible better grades given. How will this be properly monitored ? How will anyone know if the gardes submitted by teachers are for work only upto the 20th March, or infact grades with the extra teaching and work completed ? Many thanks
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We expect that Heads will monitor the process within their centre, as they are responsible for making sure their staff make judgements that are objective and based on the evidence of student performance over the course of study. We have advised that any work after 20 March is treated with caution, particularly where it suggests a much higher or lower level of performance.
Comment by s posted on
Thank you for your reply, unfortunately it doesnt answer how will the examining board know if students marks include work and mocks carried out after 20th March. If the heads of school agree with what the teachers are doing by setting additional work and mocks, then who is going to monitor that. If the school decides that they will use the additional work to grade their students but dont release this information when submitting grading, then who will check that every school has complied with the governments advise not to use work after the schools closed. The schools are given advise what to do, but if they choose to not follow this advise, who will know ? It needs to be fair for everyone.
Comment by LGO posted on
Please can you advise re arrangements for IGCSE's
Earlier you said about Cambridge IGCSE's/A Levels not coming under OFQUAL as to speak to schools. However, they are not the only Exam Board which offers IGCSE's
We are an Independant School and use IGCSE's provided through Pearsons for 4 of our core subjects - will these be included within the same perameters as 'normal' GCSE's and when will you publish guidelines and information confirming arrangements?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We do not regulate any international GCSEs, and although Pearson may choose to follow a similar approach as we have set out for GCSEs, we have no remit to provide specific guidance regarding their international GCSEs.
Comment by Deborah posted on
I don’t understand why EPQ has been cancelled as it’s not an exam. My son has completed his EPQ including his presentation and it was awaiting the submission date. Is his EPQ now being graded in the same way as the exams i.e by predicted grades? If so, will he be able to appeal the grade he is awarded and request that it is graded the traditional way, the same way students will be able sit an exam in the autumn if they are not happy with their awarded grade?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
The deadline for submitting marks had not passed when schools were closed, and therefore not all schools/colleges had completed the work. In your son’s case, the school will use the evidence they have to judge the centre assessment grade that they will submit. If he is not happy with that grade, he will be able to enter again in the next available sitting.
Comment by HJ posted on
Hi, I’m a resitting student. I am predicted three A’s. Could you please tell me how my previous grades from first attempt will be considered when awarding grades as I couldn’t understand clearly from how it worded when it was published from of qual last week.
Thank you very much,
Kind Regards
HJ
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Thanks very much for your comment. Our Public Enquiries team should be able to help you with this query - you can email them on public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk or call them on 0300 303 3344.
Comment by Lee posted on
Is it true that teachers cannot count any work completed/submitted after the 20th of March when predicting grades? And if this is true why?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We have been clear that there is no requirement for students to complete work after schools were closed on 20 March and that no student should be disadvantaged if they were unable to complete any work set after that date. We have also made clear that where additional work has been completed after schools and colleges were closed on 20 March, Heads of Centre should exercise caution where that evidence suggests a change in performance. In many cases this is likely to reflect the circumstances and context in which the work is done.
Comment by Ali posted on
What’s going to happen with people who are studying for functional skills level 1 at their local library, will they also get calculated grades or will it be up to the education team at the library? The exam board is Edexcel. Thank you
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
The position in relation to Functional Skills qualifications is still being worked through. We expect Edexcel will be in touch with all their schools, colleges and training providers in the coming weeks to confirm what will happen.
Comment by Nicola Catterall posted on
Hi
I sat my functional skills maths in March and failed by 4 marks, private candidate, self learning so no tutor. I now can’t rebook to resit with the same exam centre as exams have now been cancelled. What are my options now because I don’t seem to be getting straight answer from anyone ! I need functional skills to start my pre registration nursing course in September
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
The position in relation to Functional Skills qualifications is still being worked through and I'm afraid we are not able to confirm your options just yet. However, as a private candidate, it is unlikely that you would be able to receive a calculated result, because the awarding organisation would not be able to collate sufficient evidence of your likely level of achievement had you been able to resit the exam.
We would suggest you contact your awarding organisation in the coming weeks, as the situation clarifies (we know a number of them are looking at options around online assessment for cases such as yours). It might also be worth contacting your pre-registration nursing course provider to see if they are prepared to offer any flexibility to admit you, on the basis that you sit the Functional Skills exam later.
Comment by Taher posted on
Should the gcse students be given the chance to resit the exams in the early stages of the next academic year, would they be required to sit exams for every individual subject, or would they be able to sit exams specifically for the subjects they wish to study at A levels and subjects where they know they would have achieved higher had the exams gone ahead??
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Exam boards are still finalising arrangements for the autumn series, but our expectation is that students will be able to choose to enter one or more subjects.
Comment by Bryan posted on
When will ofqual release more information regarding the appeals process?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
There is more detail in the consultation we published yesterday: take a look here - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020
Comment by Huy Duong posted on
Thank you, Ian Dexter. You wrote
"We know that results for individual schools with relatively small cohorts can vary from one year to the next, but for large-entry subjects, there is generally less variation, and across all schools nationally the proportion of students at each grade is relatively stable from one year to the next.
We will take this into account in considering the model to be used for standardisation, so that it is fair to this year's students."
Could you further clarify by giving some indication of whether 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 entries for an A level exam count as a relatively small cohort, and how much variation Ofqual might accept in, say the A* grade, for each of these cases (5, 10, 20, 40, 80 entries)?
What do you think about the case below from Guardian article titled "Will GCSE and A-level students get a fair deal when coronavirus has cancelled exams?"?
There will be anomalies for some schools. Putney High, an independent school in London, for example, last year added Fashion and Textiles to its art and textile A-levels; only six girls chose it, with half getting an A* grade and half a B, making an A grade average. This year, with numbers doubling, the school expects two-thirds to get an A* and one third an A.
“This year’s is a very strong cohort and they deserve the grades but will the exam board look at last year’s results, think we have been too generous, and put their grades down? That would be very unfair,” says Stuart McLaughlin, the school’s head of textiles.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are currently looking at a range of different approaches to take account of the issues you raise, discussing these with exam board technical staff and an external technical advisory group. We will publish more detail on the statistical model in due course.
Comment by Rachael Hodson posted on
Hi my daughter is at an independent school with only 70 in the year, all mixed abilities and results vary enormously in all subjects. This year's cohort is very strong and performed well in the mocks but last year was a weak one, the year before stronger. How will the model take this into account ?- We're very concerned that if she happens to be in the lower half of the ranks of 8's for some subjects, she'll be moved down as it will look like overly generous predictions. Also she performed well in KS2 Sats at her state primary school but the current independent don't sit them.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
The statistical standardisation model will take account of a range of evidence. We also know that schools (and subjects) with smaller entry numbers tend to see more year-on-year variation in results than larger schools/subjects, and that will also be taken into account.
Comment by Rachael Hodson posted on
ok thank you - can you also tell me, how many previous years performance of the school will you take into account?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We are still considering possible options, following our recent consultation, but it is likely to focus on performance in reformed qualifications only.
Comment by Rachael Hodson posted on
so is that 2018 - if it's only 2 years experience.You said you were taking into account that small centres have varying cohorts . How will you build it into the model to reflect this. will you allow for a certain percentage of variation ? (and how much?) - otherwise pupils who have done well this year are going to be severely penalised by last year;s weak performance. thanks for your advice.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We’re still working on the detail with exam boards and taking account of responses to our consultation on the principles of the model. We’ll say more in due course.
Comment by Matthew Slater posted on
My daughter is a year 10 student and was supposed to be taking her RE GCSE exam this year. A comment on her schools web site states that they will no longer be entering them into this exam! After studying for this the past four years, I feel she could have received a predicted grade. Will she be given the chance to take this exam in year 11 or will this exam be written off? We are unclear as she goes to an academy and so are unsure how this will work next year?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are consulting on the question of whether to issue grades to students in year 10 and below – please take a look and give us your views https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020.
Comment by Preety posted on
Hi there,
My son is in Year 10 and is enrolled to take the Level 2: Further Mathematics examination. Will he be judged in the same way as other students? He has successfully completed his iGCSE maths.
Thanks
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Thank you for your comment - please get in touch with our Public Enquiries team and they'll do their best to help. Their email address is public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk.
Comment by Laura Hill posted on
Can you tell me how the appeals procedure will work, if a student or centre are not satisfied with the grade that has been allocated?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
There is more detail in the consultation we published yesterday - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020
Comment by Nathabiel Hope posted on
Hi,
I would like to use this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work during these unprecedented times. Will the consoltation that you are referring to in the comments above include what is being done to help the current year 10s who will be sitting their GCSE exams in the summer of 2021? As we we will be hugely disudvantaged especially the schools which offer two year GCSE courses as it means we won't have time to cover the whole specification and this is just putting more pressure on us. Please publish information for your 10s soon because the stress is making this whole situation worse. Thank you for your time!
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We're aware that the current situation will have an impact on students in year 10 (and year 12) who will sit exams in 2021. Please be assured that we'll be thinking carefully about how we can address that, but our priority at the moment is the students who were due to take exams this summer.
Comment by Nathabiel Hope posted on
Our head teacher emailed us stating that they are waiting for an announcement from the Department of Education and government this week regarding the next year's Cohort (current year 10s) GCSE exams. Will this be published on Ofquals website too? Many thanks, take care!
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are consulting on the question of whether to issue grades to students in year 10 and below – please take a look and give us your views - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020
Comment by Maggie M posted on
If a school has accepted former students as private candidates but have not had any teaching related contact since the student left are they able to accept information from the students private tutor? If the school is taking into account evidence from the private tutor how can they be sure this is a true judgement? Also how can the school decide where in the ranking that student should be if they only have the external tutor's judgement to base their opinion on?
What type of evidence from a private tutor would be acceptable?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
For the Head of Centre to include private candidates in the grades/rank order submitted, they must be confident that their staff can make those judgements, and judgements must be agreed by two members of staff. As you recognise, this is problematic when the only judgement comes from the external tutor. We are currently exploring whether there are alternative arrangements that can be put in place for students in this position.
Comment by Karen Roberts posted on
As an Exams officer I can't see the reason for changing the results dates - most of us plan our lives and family commitments around such dates - how do we prepare for different ones at this late stage unless it is before the end of the summer term?
Obviously we all want the best for pupils and we support all teachers, SMT, pupils but there doesn't seem to be any consideration for us at this stage given we will be highly involved in processing all the new data involved in the management of the grades this summer.
Comment by Julie Dark posted on
I have just heard the news that you cannot appeal a teacher's judgement. What about the data they proves teacher's predict inaccurately and what about teacher bias - conscious or subconscious - it does exist. What if a teacher has told you an expexted grade and has given you tests results eg all 7s but your child is graded a 6? Surely this can be challenged?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We have set out our reasoning in the consultation document here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020 - please do take a look and send us a response.
Comment by Mrs Nicol posted on
My daughter is in year 11 and will be starting her full time 3 year dance diploma in September 2020. The college is a musical theatre college with no facility to re take any GCSEs and it is 150 miles from where we live so she will be in college linked accomodation. This means that it will be very difficult to resit in Autumn term. What should young people in this situation do?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
There will be no requirement for her to re-sit any GCSEs in the autumn if she is unable to.
Comment by Dawn Nicol posted on
Sorry I think you misunderstood me; a lack of an appeal process means we are unable to challenge her GCSE results, should we need to. My daughter has attended auditioned and is going on to study a level six diploma in professional dance. The college do not offer the facility to resit GCSE exams, as they are a specialist school. This means that the results she gets are final and cannot be appealed. Due to highly competitive auditions and high volume of applicants for these courses, we are unable to take a year out.
Have Ofqual considered this cohort of young people (and other young people in similar situations) who are unable from a practical perspective to resit their exams?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
I can assure you that we have given very careful consideration to the young people affected by the exceptional circumstances this year, and we believe the approach we have implemented is the fairest in the circumstances. In the particular situation that your daughter is in, if she wishes to sit her exams in the autumn, there may be another local school or college who would let her sit them there.
Comment by Amanda posted on
My daughter has been studying three A levels at a Sixth form college and was studying for a fourth privately, with a qualified and experienced teacher in a subject (Latin) not available at the college. She had been entered to sit all four exams at her college and as such has an established relationship with them. My daughter has been offered a place at university dependent on the Latin A level. At the moment her college is saying she cannot be given a grading in that subject as they don’t have anyone available to make a judgement on her work. The private tutor has plenty of evidence of my daughters work and of her experienced teaching capabilities. Is there anything we can do to compel them to give her a grading or anything else we can do?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are aware of the challenges faced by some private learners as a result of the grading approach planned for 2020. In the consultation we launched on 15 April we explained some ways that we and exam boards are considering for private candidates to be awarded grades this summer. Please take a look here and consider submitting a response - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020.
Exam boards will continue to work with us to explore all options for how such a process could work and will provide an update on this no later than 30 April.
Comment by Lyn MacKinnon posted on
My son is taking Business A level fast-track online via the Oxford Learning College. As OLC has no exam centre, he is registered to sit the exams at his school, at which he was a student for 7 years. He is now Yr 14. Can his school - as his exam centre - use the evidence given to them by OLC to provide his grade? He has a strong, long-term relationship with his school. His school has provided his UCAS predicted grade and reference.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
For the Head of Centre to include ‘private candidates’ in the grades/rank order submitted, they must be confident that their staff can make those judgements, and judgements must be agreed by two members of staff. We suggest you speak to the school to see if they feel able to do this.
Comment by G H posted on
Thanks for all the work on this. Will students still be able to get a Grade 9?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Yes, the full range of grades will be awarded.
Comment by AR posted on
What will happen to the year 10’s who will take their gcses in summer 2021?Please can you make an informed decision as quickly as possible.Can you also consider that some schools may not be able to finish the gcse spec on time?Thank you for your time and concern
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are acutely aware that the current year 10 (and year 12) students will have missed a substantial amount of school time. While our current priority is the students who were due to take exams this summer, we are also giving careful consideration to exams in 2021 and we'll provide more information when we can.
Comment by Karen Vinicombe posted on
Can you tell me what will happen with students that were due to re-sit their English or Maths GCSE the Summer?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
If they are studying at a school or college, they should be included in the overall rank order for English and/or maths. If they are studying as private candidates, and the school/college is confident that they have seen enough of their work to include them, they should do so. We are currently exploring whether there are alternative options for private candidates where the school/college has not seen enough work to be able to include them in their data.
Comment by James posted on
I’m a private candidate and I have real concerns.
I was suppose to sit 2 A levels and 5 GCSEs this summer. The exam officer told me she would withdraw me from the exams by the 21st of April because there isn’t clear information on what to do for private candidates. She told me that there was a risk that I would lose my money and not get an exam.
There just isn’t enough information and guides. The government said that qualifications will be graded by a teacher based on many mocks but what if you don’t have anyone to Mark my mocks. I study on my own with no tutoring, so I don’t have any teacher to Mark my work. I think the government doesn’t understand how difficult it is to study on your own; Yet alone find exams. I’ve been rejected by many schools and now I’ve found a school that finally granted me the opportunity to do my exams and to attain my qualifications.
I’m suppose to be applying to university on October, while I study for my level 3 diploma in applied science, which I was suppose to start on September. How am I suppose to apply to university without my qualifications.
If I don’t get my results this summer, I will end up waiting another whole year before starting university.
I want clear information for private candidates before 21 of April. I don’t know wether to withdraw or continue with my exams. If I withdraw and lose my exams or if I continue and lose my money and exams.
I don’t mind doing my exams on autumn, but I don’t know if I have to reapply for those exams or if the exams I’ve applied for will be valid for autumn. And if the exams will be done in autumn then I think it should only be fair that university extend their application deadline.
Exams can be done if everyone wears masks and distances them selves by 2 metres. It’s not that hard. One table at a time.
Please government, do something. I don’t want to withdraw from my exams. I actually want to do it. We need clarity for those private students who don’t have schools/teachers contacting them and helping them, guiding them. So people are genuinely on their own and don’t have support. These exams do cost money to, their not for free when your a private candidate. I spent around £600.
Give us a yes or no before the deadline. We’re young, we can handle the virus.
Good day.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We recognise that this is an anxious time for private candidates. We are currently exploring whether there are alternative options for private candidates where the school/college has not seen enough work to be able to include them in their data.
Comment by D E posted on
When will the outcome of the consultation that was launched on 15 April be published?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We will be working through the responses as quickly as we can, and we expect to be able to publish the outcome in mid-May.
Comment by Grant posted on
How soon do you anticipate releasing further information about how the statistical standardisation model will be applied?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are currently still discussing several options with exam board technical staff and an external advisory group. We are also consulting on the principles of the model - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020. We will publish more information as soon as we are able.
Comment by Grant posted on
You mentioned taking KS2 data into account. Is this SATs only or will you take into account other measures of cohort ability where it is available (e.g. Midyis data)
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We will use KS2 test data only for the whole cohort.
Comment by Grant posted on
What about for cohorts where there is no such KS2 data? For example cohorts who came largely from independent primary schools who did not take SATs?
I think there's a potential equality issue there.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
KS2 data is not the only source of evidence and it is used at cohort level, rather than for individual students. Students won’t be disadvantaged if they did not take KS2 tests.
Comment by Paul Hay posted on
Ian
Isn't it therefore reasonable to suggest that there will be number of students who sat the KS2 tests who will be disadvantaged as progression and late development will not be taken into account?
Equally, cohorts' do change. Departments change and effective management improves. None of these factors appear to have any value .
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Key Stage 2 data will be used at centre level, not for individual students.
Comment by Mills posted on
The proposed system for grading exams clearly leaves private candidates at a disadvantage. The reason many sit as private candidates is because the education system has failed to support them : this further compounds the problem. The response of - candidates can sit exams in autumn highlights this- like these kids lives don’t matter: taking another year out has huge financial and emotional implications: it’s not good enough- it’s blatant inequality!!!!!
Comment by jD posted on
Can teachers take into account feedback/ evidence from private tutors who are currently teachers in other schools?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Teachers will need to make decisions about all the students in their school/college and be able to rank order then within each grade, that is determine the relative strengths of each student. Centre assessment grades and rank orders must be agreed and signed off by two teachers at the school/college. Feedback from other tutors can only ever relate to an individual student and therefore it is difficult to see how it can provide meaningful insight into assigning the rank order of students.
Comment by lovren posted on
hi thank you ian
Comment by labib posted on
what would happen to gcse students who received conditional offers from colleges/sixthforms? It is possible that they may fall short of the entry requirements by a grade or so due to the new moderation system. Would this cost them their placement? Would they still be eligible for their offers?
Personally i believe that it would be fair to such students if they either remained eligible for their offers even if they are a grade short of the required grade. And if not, then they should be given the chance to prove their capability by taking the exams in the early stages of the next academic year, with the conditional offer still standing should they meet the required grades.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
As in any other year, it will be for individual sixth forms and colleges to determine their policy for accepting students.
Comment by Anon posted on
Having read the most recently published guidance regarding standardisation I quote “the statistical model will consider prior attainment at school or college level, not at individual student level” which makes sense but will it look at a subject level? For example if a college has a subject that performs significantly above all the others, and previous years results demonstrate this, looking at just a College level would likely bring those grades down. What will happen here?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Yes, each subject will be subject to separate standardisation.
Comment by Shirley posted on
Please will you clarify what your expectations are for GCSE learners in Adult Education who would have taken their examinations this summer. Many need their qualification to progress to university and vocational training, including midwifery, nursing, the fire and police services. Is it correct that the Head of Centre will submit predicted grades? Many thanks for our help.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
If these students were studying at a centre and the Head of Centre is confident that their staff have seen enough work to be able to make a judgement about a centre assessment grade and rank order for each student, then they should submit data for them.
Comment by N posted on
Will year 12s who are taking further maths next year but sitting A Level Maths this year be given a grade for the Maths A Level they were supposed to sit this Summer?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Yes, they should be given centre assessment grades and included in the centre's overall rank order for A level maths.
Comment by John posted on
I go to a very good college which produces outstanding results every year, which in turn will mean the teachers are likely to perhaps over predict grades, so will that result in the students getting higher grades in my college?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
The statistical standardisation exercise will take into account a school or college's previous results, so a college that has higher than average results will likely see that pattern continuing. However, if teachers do appear to be more generous in their centre assessment grades, those grades will be adjusted at standardisation.
Comment by EALC posted on
Do you have any advice for the fairest way to predict grades for EAL students? For example, one of my students is a year 11 student who arrived in the UK at the end of year 10, with minimal English. First November mocks in year 11 were predictably low, while February mocks showed slightly more progress. I completely understand why any work/data from school closure onwards cannot be used, but this leaves EAL students at a disadvantage as their English proficiency increases with time in the UK - the first six months will show little useable English, with a much faster progression after that six months. To put it more simply, what my student showed in their first 6 months of year 11, will be vastly different to their capability by the end of year 11. However, due to school closures, teachers will be unable to see this progress. Do you have any advice for teachers about how to predict grades in this kind of situation? Thank you.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Schools and colleges should use their professional experience to make a fair and objective judgement of the grade they believe a student would have achieved had teaching and learning continued as normal and had they sat their exams. For students with English as an additional language, schools and colleges should consider the likely language acquisition a student would have made by the time of the exam as part of this and reflect this in their judgement.
Comment by Anon posted on
Another question about private candidates: If a college is unable to give a grading because they lack teachers with specific subject knowledge, would it be possible to change to a centre who could? The new centre could then review the work of the privately taught candidate and give an informed decision. Alternatively, would it be possible for her work to be seen by a panel of teachers who are experts and for them to give a report to the centre for grading? We used a private tutor for my daughter for one of her four A levels because she wanted to do a subject that was not available at the college. She has worked so hard and completed the course in her own time. She has also been offered a place at Oxbridge dependent on this grade. PLEASE HELP us it is so important. I really don’t want her to waste a year when all she has done is extra work!
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Heads of Centres submitting marks must be confident in the judgements of the grades and rank order submitted, and they will need to be signed off by two teachers in the centre. Where Heads are confident that their staff have seen enough of a private candidate’s work over the course to be able to make a judgement and include them in the centre’s rank order, they can do. However, if the tutor is not a member of their staff, they would be reliant on the tutor’s judgement alone, which is not sufficient for other students in the centre. This is why we are urgently exploring alternatives with the exam boards.
Comment by Anon posted on
Thank you for your time answering all of these questions. If you wouldn't mind, do you know when are you likely to have reached any conclusions with the exam boards so that the private candidates know where they stand?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Exam boards are hoping to be able to say more about possible options by the end of this month.
Comment by G posted on
Can year 12 students sitting a full 2 year A-level still be entered for AS exams this year to receive a calculated grade. Will this count as UCAS points?
Equally, some reports suggested centres may lose funding of students next academic year if entered for AS exams this academic year? Is this the case?
Separately, will functional skills exams be included in the awarding of quals this summer also?
Thanks
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Yes, year 12 students who were previously entered for AS will receive a calculated grade. Any decision about UCAS points is for UCAS. Funding decisions are for DfE. On functional skills, we will shortly be consulting on arrangements this summer.
Comment by Anon posted on
What guidance will be issued to ensure no conflicts of interest occur within a centre where children of staff are in Year 11 or 13 ?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
In our information document for heads of centre and teachers - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-qualifications-in-summer-2020 we are clear that where a staff member might have a personal interest in a candidate (for example as a relative), Heads of Centre should make sure that additional controls are put in place, as appropriate.
Comment by Alex posted on
I’m a computer science student who submitted my coursework earlier this year will that be taken into account when producing my grade.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Yes, your teachers will take that into account when making a judgement about your centre assessment grade.
Comment by Naomi Bruton posted on
Hi,
Just wanted to check whether the ranking system applies for the double science award grades.
Thanks.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Yes, you'll need to provide a grade (on the 17-point grade scale) and a rank order for each grade.
Comment by Charlie Wright posted on
Is it possible for students to end up with a result lower than their mock grade?
For instance would some of my students who achieved a grade 4 in a mock in November be at risk of getting a grade 3 and therefore fail their GCSE
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Centre assessment grades should be a holistic judgement, taking into account performance on recent mock exams but also other information (see our information document - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-qualifications-in-summer-2020). These grades will be subject to a statistical standardisation exercise which could mean some students' grades are adjusted upwards or downwards. It is therefore possible that a centre assessment grade of 4 could be adjusted to grade 3, if it appears that the school/college's judgments have been more generous than others.
Comment by Dan posted on
Will you make use of Midyis or AlIs score
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
No, we don’t plan to use this data in the statistical standardisation but schools/colleges who have it can use it to inform their judgements.
Comment by Conor posted on
Hi,
I am a Leaving Certificate student in Ireland. I have made an application on UCAS and so far have received one conditional offer from a UK college. I understand these colleges will be expecting results from students in late August/early September.
As of yesterday, the Dept. of Education in Ireland has announced that our exams, which were due to commence in June, will now provisionally begin on the 29/7/20 with results coming out in late September/early October.
Can you please let me know what options are now available to me as predicted grades do not appear to be something our government are looking to as an option.
As a student it is a very confusing and worrying time. I hope you can help clarify this matter for me.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Please contact our public enquiries team on 0300 303 3344 or by email at public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk
Comment by VL posted on
Hi,
I am a university student who planned to retake 2 of my A-levels at my old sixth form centre where I had studied for 2 years. However, as a centre, they have decided to not award private resitting candidates any grades, like many colleges across the UK. I have been independently learning for the last 3 months to resit these exams. I was wondering how I would be able to attain qualifications for this exam cycle, as I have been working towards this for 3 months and it is integral towards my university offer next year. Is there no system whereby the government can provide people who were retaking outside of a school with grades as I feel this is unfair.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Please contact our public enquiries team on 0300 303 3344 or by email at public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk for guidance.
Comment by Sarah Croydon posted on
There is ample evidence from research eg Joseph Rowntree Trust that pupils from disadvantaged economic and social backgrounds even attending high achieving schools tend to suffer from sub-conscious teacher bias and are predicted lower grades.
Will this be taken into account?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Our consultation - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020 includes an equality impact review and a review of the research literature in this area, and sets out our proposed position. Please do take a look and give us your views.
Comment by debbie posted on
Are Yr 12/13 resits for Maths and English to be included within the Yr 11 school ranking process?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Yes, for re-sitting students, centres should submit a centre assessment grade and include them in the overall rank order for that subject.
Comment by Steve Dann posted on
If a Y12 student taking a two year A level programme is resitting English or Maths GCSE this summer, and could potentially sit the GCSE exam in Year 13, are they in scope for inclusion in the calculated grades in the same way that Y13 students would be (who would not be able to enter for the next exam series at the college)?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Yes, for re-sitting students, centres should submit a centre assessment grade and include them in the overall rank order for that subject.
Comment by Mark posted on
What about a student who is entered for a second MFL (their native tongue) who will have received no formal instruction in this (being taught at home) from the centre? Is the centre able to predict a grade based on their knowledge of the student and their performance in the formally taught MFL at that centre?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
The head of centre will be able to submit a centre assessment grade only if they are confident that they have seen enough work to do so. I suggest you contact the centre to ask them.
Comment by Adam Singh posted on
Will the current year 10s (and 12s) sitting GCSE exams in the summer of 2021 get predicted grades too? Surely, it shouldn't be expected for us to sit exams when we haven't covered all the topics yet. We will not be able to finish the specifications in time now, our teachers said so themselves. This is putting so much pressure on us. Please also consider reducing specifications. Thank You for all your hard work, what would we do without it? We couldn't get through this crisis without you answering our questions
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We are considering a variety of possible options for summer 2021, and we'll say more when we can.
Comment by Adam Singh posted on
Do you know approximately when their will be a consultation or information realessed for exams in the summer of 2021?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We are considering a variety of possible options for summer 2021, and we'll say more when we can.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We know the COVID-19 outbreak will have caused stress and uncertainty for many students, regardless of whether or not they were expecting to take exams this year. Students who are studying GCSE, AS or A level courses, but are not due to take exams until 2021, will have had their teaching and learning disrupted. We do not yet know for how long this disruption will continue. We are working with the DfE, the wider sector and exam boards to consider the options for next year.
Comment by Kye posted on
Are Year 10 being awarded Grades as well?
I struggle to see the reason why year 10 wouldnt be awarded grades, surely it has had a huge impact on their education, so if Y10 and 11 have sat the same courses in some of their chosen subjects, then im sure Y10 will be awarded as well.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We are currently consulting on the question of whether grades should be issued for students in year 10 and below. You can submit a response here by 11.45pm on Wednesday 29th April. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-exam-grading-and-assessment-in-2020
Comment by Kye posted on
When will this information be revealed.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are working to analyse in detail all the information submitted during our consultation and will provide an update on the outcome as soon as we are able to.
Comment by Anna posted on
Hi, I sit 3 A levels within college and have been enrolled to sit a 4th as a private candidate at the same centre. My headteacher has just refused me a grade in the 4th A level even though I was willing to submit work, a report from my tutor and I have a 'substantial existing relationship' with the college. What do I do now? Not only do I need this grade to go to university but also feel I deserve it having worked hard for 2 years.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We have been clear that heads can only submit centre assessment grades if they or their staff have seen enough work to be confident in that grade. We recognise that this will not always be possible where students have entered privately. You could try contacting the university to see if they might be flexible, and you will have the opportunity to take the exams in the autumn.
Comment by Anna posted on
What if work has been offered for staff and the head to look at, yet they refuse to?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Information has been published by JCQ today regarding private candidates. It might be helpful. You can find it here:https://www.jcq.org.uk/media-centre/news-releases/jcq-publishes-supplementary-information-on-validation-of-evidence
Comment by Karyn Frayne posted on
Where a school has students entered for 2 different boards in the same subject, e.g AQA and OCR, should the rank ordering be done within each board or within the whole subject cohort?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We are currently discussing this with exams boards who are designing their systems to collect the data. We expect that you will be asked for a single rank order for the subject, but exam boards will confirm as soon as they can.
Comment by katy morag posted on
what if you revised a lot for your mock exams and you got amazing results. You did better than your predicted and target grades?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Teachers will take into account all available evidence, including recent mock exams, when coming to a judgement about a centre assessment grade.
Comment by Alicia posted on
Hi,
I'm having a hard time finding information about sending off my coursework and past papers, I'm a year 11 home schooled student but I haven't been working with any professional teachers since I left school. I've done past papers with family members (who have been tutoring me) but I'm not sure about sending my coursework to a center. The school that I booked my exams with hasn't had any information either and i'm relying on these grades to get into college this year. Any information would be useful right now.
Thanks.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Exam boards are hoping to provide more guidance this week.
Comment by Anonymous posted on
I am the tutor of a private candidate who is re-sitting GCSE English Language with the view to improving his grade for his UCAS application in the autumn. However, his centre has made the decision to remove him from entering this summer series (against the wishes of his parents and the student himself) because of complications with the rank ordering.
The centre has recommended that he sit an exam in the autumn, however the results for this exam will published too late for the Oxbridge UCAS applications. Please can you advise how I should support the family. Can you release a list of centres who will accept private candidates at this point, please? Location is not a consideration, as everything will be done remotely at this point. Also, please can you provide contact details for an Ofqual representative with whom I can discuss this further. Kind regards.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Please contact our public enquiries team who will be able to provide information. You can contact them on 0300 303 3344 or by email at public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk
Comment by musa awan posted on
as part of your standardisation process will you be using sats results or target grades to adjust predicted grades up or down.personally i have a target grade of 5 and i have been achieving way higher than this as in my recent mocks i mainly got all 7-9.i dont generally believe that sats results or target grades should be used as it does not take into account for the improvement one can make or decline in ones results at gcses and so it would be highly unfair for a person who has a low target grade to be predicted down although the person has been achieving high in his gcses whereas a person who doesn't achieve as much is predicted higher just because of his target grades
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Your teachers will be using a range of evidence, including your recent work in school and mock exam results, to make a judgment about the grade they submit for you. We will use Key Stage 2 (SATs) results for the school as a whole as part of the evidence to judge whether your teachers' grades are more generous or more severe than other schools, rather than using it to determine your final grade.
Comment by Joe Dobson posted on
Thanks for your conscientious approach to answering questions and to everyone trying to make this work - it's very difficult for everyone as I'm sure 99% of parents and students understand.
My question is whether a deadline has been set for schools to submit their predicted grades to examination boards? In the initial government guidelines it said that it would be "no earlier than 29 May". Has a specific date been set yet? I ask because some schools are approaching this in very different ways and it means kids are unsure about whether there is much point (from the perspective of predicted grades) in undertaking the work at all. It would be helpful for the final deadline for grades to be submitted by schools to be made public so that parents and children feel less in the dark.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Exam boards are working to confirm this as soon as they can, and it will be made public. We have also been clear that schools and colleges should be very cautious in basing their judgements about centre assessment grades on work completed after schools closed on 20 March, particularly where that work was much better or worse than work previously done in school.
Comment by Sarah posted on
What is going on with private candidates? They’ve been left completely in the dark with no guidance after having spent a whole year dedicating all their time studying independently (which isn’t easy mind you). My centre, which is my secondary school, have said they don’t have a problem providing a grade but are having trouble ranking us, re sit students, within the centre’s rank order. We have ALL been waiting for further guidance as to how private candidates should be ranked within this year’s cohort. We need more information to be published about this or else none of us will be able to move on. The stress and anxiety of all students in my position is through the roof. You keep on repeating that ‘you’re urgently exploring whether there are alternative arrangements that can be put in place for students in this position’, but frankly I have seen no progress as of yet. Please release further guidance and instructions as to how to rank re sit students along side this year’s cohort. Taking the exams in Autumn would mean a second gap year for many which really is not feasible, financially and emotionally. please also give us a concrete date as to when further information will be released.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We do understand that this is a stressful time for private candidates. We are hoping that we and the exam boards will be able to say more later this week.
Comment by Zoe posted on
I am retaking all three of my A-Levels during my gap year. I have a BCC and I was hoping to obtain ABB in order to study at my chosen course at University this September. I have received a letter from my school saying they will not be awarding private students grades this Summer.
This has caused me a high level of stress anxiety over what will happen to my place at university.
I already have three grades and was one mark off of an A, and have an A in my coursework for another subject. Does evidence such as this, along with having actually done the A-Levels already, constitute enough evidence to be awarded a grade this Summer? For example, if I received a B (one mark off of an A) in the previous year, is it not a realistic judgment to be awarded an A grade this year?
Is there a possibility of retakers being provided grades with the evidence that they have done the A-Level before? Ofqual has said that if there is enough evidence for private students to be awarded a grade by their school this should be done so. Therefore, does having done the A-Level before counting as evidence towards being awarded a grade?
It is nervewracking for a retaker in this time, due to the amount invested in retaking the A-Levels in hope of beginning their course this September.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Please contact the public enquiries team who will be able to provide information, on 0300 303 3344 or email public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk
Comment by Ved Luhana posted on
I am a University student who planned to retake 2 of muy A levels this year. However, my centre, like many, have decided to not award private retakers who do not attend the school any grades this year. I was wondering for a student like me who planned to retake privately but are left without any centre to take these exams at what the solution would be? As I feel I am entitled to being able to take examinations I have worked towards
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
For further information, please contact the Ofqual public enquiries team on 0300 303 3344 or by email at enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk
Comment by Ed posted on
Could you advise on the following:
We have 240 KS4 (16year old) students completing GCSE Maths. We have 20 KS5 (17/18 year old) students completing a resit in the same qualification.
Should we grade and rank all of these students together as one cohort? Or are we going to report to exam boards as separate cohorts?
Thank you
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
They will need to be submitted as one overall rank order.
Comment by Alex posted on
I study business at a level I have been constistenty getting b/c grades across the two years with a couple of As and a couple of Ds recently I achieved an E/U in one my mocks will the E/U have more weight than the tests that I have done throughout the years
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Your teachers will be weighing up a wide range of evidence, including mock exams and classwork, to come to a judgement about the centre assessment grade.
Comment by HMS posted on
Will the AQA level 2 certificate in Further Maths students be awarded grades in the same way as GCSE grades?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
I suggest you contact AQA directly. Ofqual is currently consulting on arrangements for a range of qualifications that are not GCSEs, AS or A level. Please take a look and let us have your views. https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-assessment-and-grading-in-2020
Comment by Diane Mansfield posted on
I have students who have completed Entry Level Certificates in Maths. How will these qualifications be awarded?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are currently consulting on options for a range of qualifications, including Entry level - https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/exceptional-arrangements-for-assessment-and-grading-in-2020. Please do take a look and let us have your views via the consultation survey.
Comment by LGO posted on
Please could you kindly provide more advice or a link on grading tiered subjects, in particular Combined Science, so that we can start the process as accurately as possible from the start.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
Please look at the Information for Heads of Centres, that we published on 3 April - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/awarding-qualifications-in-summer-2020. This sets out the evidence you should take into account when considering the grade and rank order for each student. For tiered subjects, exam boards will be asking you to rank order students by subject (rather than separately by tier). In combined science, this will mean, for those students where you judge the centre assessment grade to be 5-5, 5-4, 4-4, or 4-3, for each you should rank the foundation and higher tier students together.
Comment by LGO posted on
Thank you for the response - seems perfectly clear - perhaps you will understand slight confusion when schools are receiving advice from Exam Boards saying only yesterday on their support pages...
"For subjects with entry tiers, it’s not yet clear whether teachers will need to produce two rank order lists, one for Foundation and one for the Higher Tier. We’re working with the other exam boards and with Ofqual to clarify the details for this and we’ll be back in touch when we know the answer."
Comment by Student posted on
I am a student and I had to resit one of my a levels due to serious medical issues last year. I am still unsure on whether I will even get the grade I worked for all this time, my old teachers don’t know, neither does my tutor and the teachers are all so busy with their current students I keep being forgotten. If there was more clarity about whether I can be given a grade by my old teachers that would be great as I have spent the last month being told maybe, despite being an old student of theirs, with essays and marks. But they still don’t know
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We are expecting exam boards to publish more detail tomorrow on options for private candidates.
Comment by sally posted on
I work for a training provider that has 2 different centres (due to a college being taken over by the training provider), with 2 different centre numbers. We all happen to use the same awarding organisation. Do we make 2 submissions (i.e. one per centre)? Or does the training provider need to make only one submission? Thanks.
Comment by sally posted on
I have now resolved this query with the awarding organisation - each centre will submit its own grades.
Comment by aulona xhema posted on
What if the student didn't do well in their mocks due to personal reasons like mental health and missing some content due to a surgery and their intentions after the mocks were to buckle down and do as much homework and revision as they can? because I don't think its fair to those students who were ready to work hard...it was better late than never.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
In our Information for Heads of Centre, we give details of a range of evidence that should be taken into account to make a judgement about the centre assessment grade. However, it should be an objective judgement based on the student's performance up to 20 March when schools were closed.
Comment by Sandeep posted on
I think being fair to A level private candidates is to give them more options than to just sit the autumn exams. My child has taken a gap year to improve grades and to make it to the Uni of his choice and here he is not knowing what’s going to happen to him. How is this fair? This is causing immense anxiousness to parents as well as students as they may not want to take another year out ! Is this fair ?
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
We believe the approach we have put in place is as fair as it can be in the current exceptional circumstances. We are expecting exam boards to publish more detail tomorrow on options for private candidates.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We believe the approach we have put in place is as fair as it can be in the current exceptional circumstances. We are expecting exam boards to publish more detail today on options for private candidates.
Comment by Stephen Martin posted on
As a parent of Year 11 and 13 students, it would be helpful to have their exam results delivered as soon as possible (and before the original dates) so that they can make early decisions about their future. It would also enable the Autumn series of GCSE "resits" to be done at the earliest possible so as not to impact too much on A-Level studies.
Comment by Anonymous posted on
Many thanks for getting back to me.
Comment by Craig posted on
Our daughter was due to sit an A level in a subject which only attracts a small number of students each year (12-15). For the past two years, there have been no A*, two A grades and five or six Bs. This year, one student is predicted to get an A* and two to get As. Will the moderation process affect the A* student and the second ranked A student based on the school’s previous performance, even if both are solidly within their grades?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
The statistical standardisation exercise is likely to take account of a range of evidence, including the prior attainment (in this case GCSE scores) of students compared with previous years. We know that year-on-year results in subjects and centres with relatively small numbers of students can vary more than larger centres/subjects, and that will also be taken into account.
Comment by Craig posted on
Thank you for your reply.
Comment by SteveH posted on
I work in a post-16 college. Our students have achieved a grade 2 or 3 already. For many students we are paying for an exam, despite that we have predicted that they will not improve from their previous grade. We have taken away that chance from them. Should we ask for refunds from exam boards for these students?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
For further information, please contact the Ofqual public enquiries team on 0300 303 3344 or by email at enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk
Comment by Scarlett posted on
For A level autumn exams 2020, can candidates be selective about which subjects to sit the exam for? For example if I got predicted AAB, can I only sit the exam for the subject that I got B?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Yes, you will be able to choose to take one or more subjects in the autumn series.
Comment by Pete Harris posted on
I have a cohort of Year 12s, who are entered for an OCR Technical exam this Spring. Are we able to estimate grades for them? Seems unfair that they just sit this at a later date, as there is another exam to prepare for and coursework that needs completing. They are ready now and we have given a lot of curriculum time to this preparation.
Comment by Ian Dexter posted on
The regulatory framework we're consulting on provides for learners expecting to take assessments on in-scope qualifications to receive a calculated grade for that assessment, whether or not they are intending to certificate this year - this would include Y12 students. We expect awarding organisations will be communicating with schools and colleges about the detail of what will happen with their qualifications in the coming days, so if you're still not clear, then do contact OCR direct.
Comment by Mia S posted on
For A Level students, will GCSE grades be taken into account in the calculator or teacher grades?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Teachers will take account of a range of evidence, including previous results, when submitting a teacher assessment grade. The statistical standardisation exercise will take account of GCSE prior attainment at the overall school/college level.
Comment by Ed posted on
Could you confirm how we will be asked to submit when we have students on different tiers of entry for the same qualification.
Will it be all as one ranked list or two lists, one for each tier
Thank you
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Students should be ranked only within the subject, not within tiers.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
For tiered subjects, exam boards will ask for a single rank order for the subjects. For the overlap grades 5, 4 and 3 (5-5, 5-4, 4-4, 4-3 for combined science) you will need to rank students on higher and foundation tiers together.
Comment by Jacques Coeur posted on
are we supposed to rank the students differently according to tiers (foundation and higher) or shall we just ignore the tiers?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Students should be ranked only within the subject, not within tiers.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
For tiered subjects, exam boards will ask for a single rank order for the subjects. For the overlap grades 5, 4 and 3 (5-5, 5-4, 4-4, 4-3 for combined science) you will need to rank students on higher and foundation tiers together.
Comment by Sarah Croydon posted on
.
Will the results of Exceptional Arrangement for Exams consultation be made public?
If so when?
Also will the raw collated comments be made available in order to facilitate transparency
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We are working to analyse in detail all the information submitted during our consultation and will provide an update on the outcome as soon as we are able to.
Comment by Rachel Forth posted on
What is being done to mitigate possible conflicts of interests? For example teachers grading their own children and children of their family members/friends.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
In our Information for Heads of Centre (link below) we are clear that grades must be signed off by two teachers and the Head of Centre. We are also clear that schools/colleges will need to put in place additional controls where a staff member has a personal interest in a student (for example where they are related).
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/878848/Summer_2020_grades_for_GCSE_AS_A_level_EPQ_AEA_in_maths_-_guidance_for_heads_of_centres.pdf
Comment by anonymous posted on
If a private candidate has been denied a grade from the centre they were registered with, is there a possibility that the candidate might be able to change centres or register with a centre specialising in private candidates? Many universities have said that if a student has to sit an exam in the autumn series they will have to defer which would disadvantage them. Thanks for answering these queries
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
The JCQ has today published information regarding private candidates which may be useful. Please find it here:https://www.jcq.org.uk/media-centre/news-releases/jcq-publishes-supplementary-information-on-validation-of-evidence
Comment by Josh posted on
what if you are a year 12 and is re-resting gcse this year will they be given result or doing it next year.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Check with your school/college, but they will be able to include you in the centre assessment grades if the teachers have seen enough of your work this year to enable them to make a judgement about the grade you were most likely to have achieved.
Comment by William posted on
Hi, for students who are unhappy with their results this summer, is there any clarity as to whether universities will hold all offers until students are able to retake in the autumn series or next summer. I strongly feel students should have the choice when to take the exams and I can see a number of advantages for taking next summer. It is my understanding the part of the reason why exams were cancelled this summer is due to students having differing amounts of teacher input and this widening inequality. This will be even more the case for Autumn exams, students taking exams in Autumn may not have had any teacher input or engagement with school since March 20th as well as this being after a long summer break and covid lockdown. So if students are not happy with their grades, will we have the choice of taking exams in either Autumn or summer?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Students will have a choice about when to take exams and they will not be required to sit in the autumn if they would prefer to re-sit next summer.
Comment by Andrea posted on
How does the advice apply to students who are not private candidates and who are on the school roll, but who through illness etc, have not been working in school and who work at home with a tutor?
Regarding schools needing to have evidence of their recent work- please can you clarify what ‘recent’ means and also clarify what happens if you do not feel you can make a judgement about predictions or rankings for these students? Does the advice re private candidates apply, or is there some other advice about these cases.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Please have a look at information published by the JCQ yesterday.
https://www.jcq.org.uk/media-centre/news-releases/jcq-publishes-supplementary-information-on-validation-of-evidence
Comment by Andrea posted on
Thank-you, that clarifies some of my questions, with reference to evidence, is there any guidance regarding what counts as ‘recent’ evidence and also how much evidence is required to make a judgement, particularly in the case of students tutored at home through illness
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Teachers should draw on existing records and available evidence of students’ performance over the course of their study. Where illness or other personal circumstances might have affected performance in mock exams, centres should bear that in mind when making their judgements. More information can be found at:
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/880611/Summer_2020_grades_for_GCSE_AS_A_level_EPQ_AEA_in_maths_-_guidance_for_heads_of_centres.pdf
Comment by SK posted on
For a student who is re- sitting their A levels, what would prior attainment mean? GCSES or the previous A level results? Will the predicted grades given to students in Oct last year ( for University applications) be considered when doing a statistical standardisation exercise ?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Prior attainment in this case would be GCSE grades. We will not be considering UCAS predicted grades in the statistical standardisation process. However, it's likely that schools will consider those, along with other evidence, when coming to a judgement about a centre assessment grade.
Comment by SK posted on
Thanks or confirming . So what relevance will the previous A level results have ? Would they be considered along with the GCSEs during the standardisation process?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We are working with technical experts within exam boards and others to develop the standardisation model. It will combine a range of evidence including: Summer 2020 centre assessment grades for GCSE, AS and A level, Extended Project Qualification and Advanced Extension Award in maths; expected grade distributions at national level; results in previous years at individual centre level; the prior attainment profile of students at centre level.
Comment by Tani posted on
Hi, for students who are studying in BETC level 1 Applied science course what is going on ? They will take a exam or they can get a grade from mock exam .
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Students will receive calculated results which will draw on a range of evidence, depending on the structure of the qualification. We are currently consulting on our approach to Vocational and Technical Qualifications, including BTECs. Find out more here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ofqual-consultation-on-awarding-vocational-and-technical-qualifications-in-summer-2020
Comment by Nyla posted on
Will year 10s and below get predicted grades or can they sit it in the future perhaps next year? I'm worrying due to the uncertainty.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
In line with our consultation proposal, we have decided that students entered for exams in year 10 and below will be eligible to receive calculated grades this summer. Please visit our website for further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ofqual-publishes-initial-decisions-on-gcse-and-a-level-grading-proposals-for-2020
Comment by Thomas Davey posted on
What about new schools? My school has only got two sets of GCSE results and this was meant to be their first cohort for A-Levels. How does standardizing grades so that they align with how a school normally does apply here? Surely two sets of results isn't enough to establish a pattern.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We’re still working on the detail with exam boards and taking account of responses to our consultation on the principles of the model. We’ll say more in due course.
Comment by Kye posted on
Hi, I saw an article today saying that Y10 will be awarded Grades.
Is this True?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
In line with our consultation proposal, we have decided that students entered for exams in year 10 and below will be eligible to receive calculated grades this summer. Please visit our website for further information: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ofqual-publishes-initial-decisions-on-gcse-and-a-level-grading-proposals-for-2020
Comment by Nyla posted on
Are year 10s able to retake in year 11 please?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Students entered for exams in year 10 and below will be eligible to receive calculated grades this summer, and will have the opportunity to sit the exam in the autumn. You may find this document useful: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/883150/Summer_2020_grades_for_GCSE_AS_A_level_guidance_for_teachers_students_parents_UPDATED_05MAY2020_FINAL.pdf
Comment by Michael posted on
So are we saying from your guidance that Y12 students taking proposed 1-year course exams like GCSE resit and Level 3 Mathematical Studies (Core Maths) have the right to a calculated grade, subject to the guidance on ranking set by Ofqual
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Yes, this is the case for GCSE. Further information about individual vocational and technical qualifications, including L3 Maths, will be published shortly. Please visit our website for the latest information.
Comment by S posted on
This being the case, have you released the consultation findings and actions?
When will we be able to read the findings of the consultation and know the final outcomes of how the grades will be arrived at?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We have received many thousands of responses to our consultation and have already published initial decisions here:https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ofqual-publishes-initial-decisions-on-gcse-and-a-level-grading-proposals-for-2020
Further decisions following the consultation will be released shortly. Please keep an eye on our website and social media for the most up to date information.
Comment by Nigel Whitney posted on
Please can I have advice re a student who had to defer A levels exams from last year to this year due to illness. She completed her studies last year and was a registered as a private candidate at the school where she studied for 5 years. The school have a full record of her academic achievements, GCSEs, mocks, etc. But they have not seen her this academic year as she was not enrolled as she had completed the syllabus and had only to revise.
Surely the school's extensive knowledge of her should allow them to award an appropriate grade, based on drawing on the extensive range of evidence available to them.
But this is uncertain. Does any Ofqual guidance apply to this situation?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
You may find it useful to visit the JCQ website which has recently published supplementary information on validation of evidence by centres for private candidates.https://www.jcq.org.uk/media-centre/news-releases/jcq-publishes-supplementary-information-on-validation-of-evidence
Comment by Fynn Dontay posted on
Can we have some more clarification on next years exams
I am in year 10 and next year I will be taking exams due to the lockdown working has been very hard and a struggle I don’t believe it’s fair to just resume learning and expect us to just get on with year 11 exams like normal and I sincerely wish we could have calculated grade as we have missed out on so much crucial learning time and I think it would be totally unjust to just expect year 10 students to resume exams like normal.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We know the COVID-19 outbreak will have caused stress and uncertainty for many
students, regardless of whether or not they were due to take exams this year.
Students who are studying GCSE, AS or A level courses, but are not due to take
exams until 2021, will also have experienced disruption to their teaching and learning
this year. We do not yet know for how long this disruption will continue.
We are working with the DfE, the wider sector and exam boards to consider the
options for next year, and will provide information as soon as we can.
Comment by Charlie posted on
Will year 10's be awarded their predicted grade for Summer 2021. As a year 10 myself, I am taking my exams next year and we have missed lots of learning and it would be impossible for us to catch up on the learning that we have missed due to closures, and it is currently very stressful not knowing what is going to happen and what situation I am going to be in.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Calculated grades will be given to students entered for exams in summer 2020. However, we know the COVID-19 outbreak will have caused stress and uncertainty for many
students, regardless of whether or not they were due to take exams this year.
Students who are studying GCSE, AS or A level courses, but are not due to take
exams until 2021, will also have experienced disruption to their teaching and learning
this year. We do not yet know for how long this disruption will continue.
We are working with the DfE, the wider sector and exam boards to consider the
options for next year.
Comment by Jane posted on
I have heard that some private schools are conducting mock exams - how can this be acceptable given that nothing is supposed to count towards awarding grades after March 20th? Why would they be doing that if it doesn't count or can it? I am not a parent of a school age child - just curious.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
There is no requirement for schools to ask students for work beyond 20 March when schools closed. We have also been clear in our information for Heads of Centre that teachers should treat evidence submitted after 20 March with caution.
For further information, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcses-as-and-a-level-awarding-summer-2020
Comment by S E posted on
I read today on AQA that individual students will be able to appeal grades if they are not happy with awarded grades. Appeals usually go to the exam board from schools. This year as teachers are awarding grades will students will make appeals independently of the school? Surely this is the only way that appeals can be made fairly.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
In our consultation we have proposed that, as in most cases any other year, appeals should be made to exam boards by schools and colleges, on behalf of one or more of their students where the school or college believes the wrong information was used to generate calculated grades, or that a mistake was made when the exam board standardised the grades or communicated the grades to centres. We will take account of the responses to our consultation when finalising our approach to appeals.
Comment by Megumi posted on
Will this years' grades affect teachers' pray progression? Some of the appraisal targets may not be met because of this as some targets are performance based in most schools. Could schools use this as an excuse to not allow teachers to go up a pay grade?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
This is not a matter for Ofqual. We suggest teachers speak to their employer or union if they have concerns.
Comment by Louisa Worssam posted on
Hi there is a huge problem here for private candidates. It feels as though you have simply cut us loose - you couldn’t come up with a solution and so the solution is no solution. We have been told by the centre my daughter is registered at to take GCSEs that they will not be supporting any of the private candidates through this process. This is an impossible situation. Apparently there may be centres that will work with candidates and their tutors to enable them to take them on in their rankings. However the paper states that the centres may charge for this work. So my question is this - why do private candidates have to pay yet again to have any chance of getting results? This could add up to several hundred pounds - I don’t have that money. The government should be covering any extra costs to private candidates caused by this situation. How can we access funds to go through this process? We need support - we need not to be ignored. Please tell me how we can get money to go through this process. We shouldn’t have to do more work anyway given that pupils at school haven’t had to do anything since March and will still get their results. This is appalling discrimination. What happens if private candidates take another year in order to sit exams and then we find ourselves still in this situation? We don’t know that a second worse Covid won’t come and disrupt the process again next year. There needs to be another solution and if that is working with other centres the costs of this need to be covered. I would appreciate a swift reply as having waited many weeks for information we have now been given only one week to sort out a new centre. Louisa
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Exam boards will set out details of any fees in due course. We regret that in these extraordinary circumstances some candidates might be disadvantaged relative to others. Our approach has been designed to allow as many students as possible to receive a grade to allow them to progress to the next stage of their lives. If you have further questions, you may like to contact our public enquiries team on 0300 303 3344 or email public.enquiries@ofqual.gov.uk
Comment by Louisa Worssam posted on
It shouldn’t be “as many students as possible” will get a mark - it should be everyone. They all deserve results. It is your responsibility to ensure that there are systems in place for every candidate which are free to access and that private candidates do not have to do more work than school pupils. At the moment you are discriminated against all private candidates - many of whom are private for the fact that they have already been let down by the system. Edexcel only have one new centre that we can use - I contacted them and they want £450 per subject to support us to a grade!!!! This is an outrage - why are private students expected to pay thousands of pounds to receive results? You should have set up a centre for this purpose for all private candidates which is free. These are costs for the government. Private candidates are being punished for COVID - this is a scandal. Why are you not covering the costs?
Comment by Clare posted on
The issue here isn't exam board fees, but the fees of the centres that need to spend hours verifying evidence - some A level students have been quoted in the thousands for 3 subjects. Personally we have paid £550 for one subject and the Centre has not yet been approved by the WJEC in Wales. Students are having to choose between attempting to get grades now, or supporting themselves for a further year. Absolutely failure on the part of the guidance and no regulation of these Centres !
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
You should discuss the cost with your centre. If you are concerned that the cost seems unreasonable, you should contact the relevant exam board. We are not able to consider concerns about the fees charged by centres as we do not regulate them.
Comment by Louisa Worssam posted on
I agree - we were quoted £450 for each GCSE subject. We shouldn’t have to pay at all - this cost should be picked up by the government. OfQual and any other organisation that is involved in exam regulation need to be part of putting a free process in place for private candidates. At the moment they are being discriminated against as in order to get a result they have to be rich - I don’t have thousands of pounds so my daughter can’t get results. OfQual why aren’t you doing something about this situation?
Comment by ibraheem choudhry posted on
im a private candidate resitting 3 A-levels at my college/ high school and have been there for the past 8 years. Just yesterday i received an email from them telling me have to sit exams - 2 papers for each subject in 2 weeks and i havent revised since a levels were called off, this seems extremely unfair and when i complained to my school they said its either that or they will give me the same grades as last year (bare in mind the reason im resitting is because my close friend was murdered last year and affected my revision and mental health) because they dont have evidence of my progress this year.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We have recently published further information for private candidates (link below). Heads of Centre can submit centre assessment grades for private candidates, and include them in the rank order, provided they are confident that they have seen sufficient work to be confident in their judgement. I appreciate that this is unexpected, but without the centre being able to see some work, they will not be able to submit a grade for you.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ofqual-publishes-initial-decisions-on-gcse-and-a-level-grading-proposals-for-2020
Comment by Yahub Astlaq posted on
Hi
My name is Yahub and I'm a head of department. My department is currently looking into mock exams for next year, but because the 2019 papers have already been completed by this year's Cohort for mock exams, we can't use them again. Can you make the 2020 Summer exams accessible to staff? As pupils are no longer sitting them and we could use them for Mock purposes. Or could you create a new set of papers to be used as mocks for next years Cohort?
Thanks!
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Please contact the exam boards for this information.
Comment by Sallie posted on
Will GCSE results be sent to Year 11 in the post or will they have to collect them from their schools?
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Please contact your school for this information.
Comment by CWestlake posted on
When will the government make an announcement about the 2021 exam cohort? Schools and students need to know where they stand. Are exams and courses going to be modified? This is not just an issue for the boards. Students cannot be expected to merely catch up what has been missed. We need to know what is being considered. Content could be cut or papers modified to allow students greater choice (avoid topics not covered). I also agree with the statement about mock papers. The last time I contacted the board regarding papers I was told they were a charity and would not be supplying any additional locked papers for use as mock exams. The government should insist that boards make 2020 papers available, particularly in subjects first tested 2019 which currently only have one past paper teachers can use. Don't leave us to fight with the boards alone.
Don't ignore the 2021 cohort as a government and simply leave it to the boards to announce. We need a government announcement on this.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Students who are due to take exams in 2021, will also have experienced disruption to their teaching and learning this year. We do not yet know for how long this disruption will continue. We are working with the DfE, the wider sector and exam boards to consider the options for next year, and will provide information as soon as we can.
Comment by Kate Daniels posted on
My son was due to resit an A level this year in order to take up an apprentice position. He had attended a state school sixth form up until last year. Like others he has now been told they cannot award him a new grade. How can it have been decided that a school’s knowledge of a pupil a year ago can be any less accurate than their knowledge of their current year 13s? I believe previous years’ predicted grades are only around 40% accurate? Therefore there is no accurate way of awarding this years grades and last years year 13 who have taken the effort to retake are the only pupils being penalised - especially as there is no guarantee they will ever have a chance to re take the exam? I would also like to know how many private schools versus state schools are going to be awarded grades for pupils of that year as I do know of a private school who will be doing that. I think this is unfair.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Teachers are being asked to provide centre assessment grades which draw upon their holistic professional judgement and all available sources of evidence to determine a centre assessment grade for students. Your son’s school or college will be able to submit a centre assessment grade only if the head teacher or principal is confident that they and their staff have seen sufficient evidence of his achievement to make an objective judgement.
Exam boards have now published further guidance to support Heads of Centre making judgements about private candidates, and we have published an update to our own information. The exam boards’ guidance sets out alternative sources of evidence a school or college might consider where it does not have sufficient evidence about a student’s attainment to submit a centre assessment grade and rank order information. It also allows for some private candidates to transfer to another centre, ahead of the grading process this summer, if the centre where they had registered decides it cannot submit a centre assessment grade.
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/882385/private_candidates_policy_update_30APR2020.pdf
http://www.jcq.org.uk/media-centre/news-releases/jcq-publishes-supplementary-information-on-validation-of-evidence
Comment by g.b posted on
Applied Generals in Science, has there been any guidance on projecting grades for year 12 and year 13, is it individual modules even though we had not finished them before lockdown or overall grade, apologies if its here but its pretty easy to miss the info
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
We are working with awarding organisations to identify the qualifications (inc. Applied Generals) in scope for learners to receive a calculated result, and those which may need to be adapted or rescheduled. The final list of qualifications will be determined by the Secretary of State. Awarding organisations will then contact centres directly to confirm.
Comment by L. Hall posted on
My daughter is in year 11. Her year group is a brighter year group than the previous year. I’ve been told that this means my daughter’s year will be disadvantaged as they can only award the same number of 9s, 8s, 7s etc as were awarded the previous year. Is this correct? I’d like to think different cohorts’ abilities were taken into account.
Comment by ashleighscott posted on
Teachers are being asked to provide centre assessment grades which draw upon their holistic professional judgement and all available sources of evidence to determine a centre assessment grade for students. You can find out more about how grades will be awarded here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gcses-as-and-a-level-awarding-summer-2020