Dear Parents and Pupils,

The DFE have released their decisions about changes to the assessment of GCSEs, AS and A Levels due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

For a press release about this please click here.

For a summary of the findings please click here. Pages 4 and 5 give an overview.

Key Information Includes:

2022

"...will be a transition year to reflect the recovery period, with grade boundaries to be set by exam boards reflecting a midway point between 2021 and 2019 – so that more students get higher grades in 2022 than before the pandemic."

"Results for exams next year will return to their normal format, with AS and A levels being released on 18 August, and GCSEs on 25 August."

1. There will be optional topics and content in GCSE English literature, history, ancient history and geography. 

2. Centres will be allowed to deliver practical work in GCSE biology, chemistry, physics, combined science, geology and astronomy, AS level biology, chemistry, physics and geology, and AS and A level environmental science by demonstration. 

3. Centres will be allowed to assess the Common Practical Assessment Criteria (CPAC) across the minimum number of practical activities required to enable students to demonstrate their competence in A level biology, chemistry, physics and geology.

4. Exam boards can carry out remote monitoring of centres’ application of the CPAC.

5. Students taking GCSE, AS and A level art and design will be assessed on their portfolio only. 

6. Exam boards will provide advance information about the focus of the content of the exams for all GCSE, AS and A level subjects (except GCSE English literature, history, ancient history and geography) for the summer 2022 exams. The policy intention of providing advance information is that it will support students’ revision. Therefore, the DfE has confirmed that advance information will be provided by 7 February 2022 at the latest. This will enable teachers to plan to adapt their teaching in the second half of the spring term if necessary. 

7. Students will be given a formulae sheet for GCSE mathematics in summer 2022. Exam boards will provide copies of the formulae sheet for use in teaching and to ensure that students are familiar with it prior to the exams.

9. Students will be given a revised equation sheet for GCSE physics and combined science in summer 2022, covering all the equations required in the subject content. Exam boards will provide copies of the equation sheet for use in teaching and to ensure that students are familiar with it prior to the exams.

As always subject teachers will support pupils with these changes ensuring they are aware of what the changes are and what this means to them.