More than 5.7 million GCSE results have been issued to students in England today, along with more than 374,000 results for level 1 and 2 vocational and technical qualifications. This year’s GCSE results are stable overall in comparison with those in 2025. Small variations are normal from year to year and from subject to subject.
The 2026 National Reference Test results are out. They show a long-term trend of slightly improved attainment in GCSE maths, but not in English language. To ensure standards are maintained, we told exam boards to take the NRT results into account when setting some GCSE maths grade boundaries. Here we explain what that means.
More than 880,000 A and AS Level results have been issued today to students in England, with another 221,000 results for vocational and technical qualifications. These results open doors for students to move on to the next stage in their lives and recognise the effort and quality of work they have displayed.
When we think about qualifications it’s tempting to focus on what they contain: the subjects, the assessments, the grades. But before that, do we really understand what the qualification is for? New research from Ofqual examines this question and sets out a detailed framework for what we call 'purpose analysis'.
We have issued the first Chief Regulator's Rebuke – a new enforcement tool introduced last October as part of a significant update to Ofqual's Supporting Compliance and Taking Regulatory Action policy. The rebuke has been issued to WJEC, following serious failings involving 4 of its Eduqas GCSE, AS and A level qualifications between 2019 and 2025.
Our new Apprenticeship Assessment Regulatory Framework sets out the final conditions, requirements and guidance for reformed apprenticeship assessment. These reforms are designed to accommodate the Department for Work and Pensions’ new principles of flexibility in the way apprenticeships are assessed. This framework provides that flexibility while ensuring standards for assessment will be upheld.
Following the Curriculum and Assessment Review, the government is introducing 3 new types of qualification for post-16 learners. Ofqual has launched a consultation on the criteria that awarding organisations must meet to be recognised to deliver these new qualifications. This blog explains what we're proposing and why.
Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are now part of daily life for most young people. Students use them to brainstorm, research, summarise and write. However, AI should not be used to generate coursework without proper disclosure. This is cheating, and the consequences, which can include losing a qualification entirely, are serious.
Ofqual has published new research exploring artificial intelligence’s potential role in marking, as well as its current capabilities and constraints. Rather than providing definitive answers, the published working paper offers an overview of the topic, shares our current thinking, highlights …
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