GCSE changes 2022/2023: What is changing to the school exams?
PLANS for this year's GCSEs has been unveiled as part of the "transition" back to pre-pandemic grading standards.
Students will still benefit from extra revision help to support them after years of Covid disruption. Here are the changes for GCSE exams this year.
What are the GCSE changes in 2022/2023?
Exam topics to be revealed prior
On February 7, exam boards in England are publishing advance information about what will appear in this year's GCSEs, AS and A-level exams.
This will apply to all subjects apart from English literature, history, ancient history, geography and art and design.
The Department for Education said the extra information “aims to focus students’ revision without providing exact questions that will appear”.
It said: “Advanced sight of the content is one part of the adaptations in place to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on education, recognising this cohort of students were affected by school closures during periods of lockdown and disruption due to absences.
Gradual to return to pre-pandemic grading standards
In 2020 and 2021, students were given marks based on assessments by their teachers, instead of sitting exams, to reduce the spread of Covid.
Under teacher assessment, more students passed exams and achieved higher marks, including record numbers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland securing top A-level grades.
Aqa confirrmed on their website: "Summer 2022 will be a transition year to reflect that we’re in a pandemic recovery period – but will still include a grading safety net with more generous grading than pre-pandemic years.
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"In 2023, Ofqual will aim to return to results that are in line with those in pre-pandemic years."
The transition years means grade boundaries could still be altered in some cases, with a lower score across papers needed to secure a particular grade, but examiners’ generosity could be more wide-ranging, exam boards have said.
Although grades will be awarded normally this time around, grade boundaries will be more lenient in England, Scotland and Wales.
Contingency plan
In case of anything that comes in the way of students sitting their exams this year, a contingency plan has been drawn up.
It will include using grades provided by schools and colleges for GCSEs, AS and A-levels.
These measures are for 2022 only.