What is predicted from this 12 months’s examination outcomes?
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upils throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland are awaiting their A-level and GCSE outcomes. Here is all you might want to know forward of outcomes day:
– When are examination outcomes this 12 months?
A-level and T-level outcomes are out on August 17, whereas GCSE outcomes shall be launched on August 24.
This is the second 12 months that college students in England will obtain outcomes for the Government’s flagship T-level {qualifications} – which had been launched to offer high-quality technical alternate options to A-levels.
Thousands of scholars will even obtain outcomes for vocational technical {qualifications} (VTQs) this month.
Results for VTQs at Level 3 taken alongside or as an alternative of A-levels, equivalent to BTECs, are on account of be launched to college students on or earlier than August 17. Results for a lot of Level 2 VTQs are anticipated on or earlier than August 24.
– What can we anticipate?
In England, exams regulator Ofqual has mentioned this 12 months’s nationwide outcomes shall be decrease than final 12 months, however they’re anticipated to be much like 2019 – the final 12 months earlier than the pandemic.
The intention to return to pre-pandemic grading comes after Covid-19 led to a rise in prime GCSE and A-level grades in 2020 and 2021, with outcomes primarily based on trainer assessments as an alternative of exams.
But faculties minister Nick Gibb has mentioned “additional protection” is in place this 12 months the place grade boundaries shall be altered if senior examiners discover nationwide proof of a drop in requirements in contrast with 2019.
He instructed the PA news company: “A typical student in 2019 – given the same level of ability, the same level of diligence – the likelihood is that same student would get the same grades in 2023 as they would have done in 2019.”
– Was something achieved to assist college students taking exams?
In England, GCSE college students who took arithmetic, physics and mixed science this summer time got formulae and equation sheets throughout exams to acknowledge pandemic disruption to studying.
GCSE college students had been additionally not anticipated to confront unfamiliar phrases in language exams.
Exam papers in the identical topic had been spaced out extra within the GCSE and A-level timetable than they had been previous to the pandemic to provide college students extra time to revise.
But in contrast to final 12 months, college students in England weren’t given advance info on the main focus of this summer time’s exams.
– How does the scenario differ within the devolved nations?
England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland provided totally different ranges of assist to college students who took exams this 12 months, and the approaches to grading this 12 months are set to fluctuate.
In Wales and Northern Ireland, many college students got advance details about what to anticipate of their examination papers this summer time to assist them put together.
In each nations, examination regulators have additionally mentioned they don’t plan to return to pre-pandemic grading till 2024.
In Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) has taken a delicate strategy to grading and modified course assessments this 12 months.
Figures launched by the SQA on Tuesday confirmed that the move fee for exams in Scotland is down from final 12 months, nevertheless it stays above 2019 ranges.
– Will college students face harder competitors for college locations?
Clare Marchant, chief govt of Ucas, expects it to be “more competitive” to safe a spot on a level course this 12 months because of the progress in 18-year-olds within the UK inhabitants and rising demand from worldwide college students.
She instructed PA that any vacancies on selective programs are prone to “go faster” in clearing so college students should be “quick off the mark” on A-level outcomes day,
Professor Sir Steve West, former president of Universities UK (UUK), has instructed that college students may face harder competitors for locations on some programs at selective universities this summer time on account of infrastructure pressures following main growth through the Covid-19 years.
– What can college students do if they aren’t proud of their outcomes and they don’t get accepted to their first selection college?
Clearing is on the market to college students who don’t meet the circumstances of their supply on A-level outcomes day, in addition to those that didn’t obtain any affords.
Students who’ve modified their thoughts about what or the place they want to research, and in addition those that have utilized exterior the conventional utility window, may also use the clearing course of by way of Ucas.
Applicants will be capable of add a clearing selection from 1pm on A-level outcomes day (Thursday August 17).
Education skilled Professor Alan Smithers has predicted that the anticipated drop in prime A-level grades this 12 months will result in “a lot of disappointment” amongst college students and a doable “huge increase” in appeals.
In England, if a pupil is sad with their grade they will ask their college or school to request that the examination board opinions the marking.
If there are nonetheless issues following the assessment, the scholar can ask their college or school to enchantment the outcome.