Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether students will be given information on what will be in their (a) GCSE and (b) A-level exams in England in summer 2023.

Answered by Nick Gibb

On 29 September, the Department and Ofqual confirmed exams will largely return to well-established, pre-pandemic arrangements in summer 2023.

The Department confirmed that advance information will not be provided for any exams taken in summer 2023. The Department has, however, decided that formulae and equation sheets for GCSE mathematics, physics and combined sciences exams should be provided in summer 2023, as was the case for exams in 2022. Ofqual has also confirmed a return to pre-pandemic grading in 2023. To protect pupils against the disruption of recent years, and in case pupils’ performance is slightly lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic, senior examiners will use the grades achieved by previous cohorts of pupils, along with prior attainment data, to inform their decisions on where to set grade boundaries.

These decisions reflect that while the 2023 cohort may have experienced some disruption due to the pandemic over the course of their qualifications, it has not been as significant as that experienced by pupils who received qualifications in 2022. Pupils will, for example, have had more time to cover the curriculum, practise assessments and understand education recovery programmes and interventions.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to release advance information on GCSE and A Level Exams in 2023.

Answered by Nick Gibb

On 29 September, the Department and Ofqual confirmed examinations will largely return to well-established, pre-pandemic arrangements in summer 2023.

The Department confirmed that advance information will not be provided for any examinations taken in summer 2023. The Department has, however, decided that formulae and equation sheets for GCSE mathematics, physics and combined sciences examinations should be provided in summer 2023, as was the case for examinations in 2022. Ofqual has also confirmed a return to pre-pandemic grading in 2023. To protect pupils against the disruption of recent years, and in case pupils’ performance is slightly lower than before the COVID-19 pandemic, senior examiners will use the grades achieved by previous cohorts of pupils, along with prior attainment data, to inform their decisions regarding where to set grade boundaries.

These decisions reflect that while the 2023 cohort may have experienced some disruption due to the pandemic over the course of their qualifications, it has not been as significant as that experienced by pupils who received qualifications in 2022. Pupils will, for example, have had more time to cover the curriculum, practise assessments and use education recovery programmes and interventions.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to the announcement made by the Chief Regulator of Ofqual on 30 September 2021 that exam results in 2022 will "reflect a midway point between 2021 and 2019", what recent estimate Ofqual has made of the likely distribution of (a) A-Level and (b) GCSE grades in summer 2022.

Answered by Andrea Jenkyns

The department is clear that exams are the best and fairest form of assessment for students to show what they know and can do. In 2022, students have taken exams and assessments in A levels, T Levels, and other post-16 qualifications for the first time since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. These examinations took place with adaptations to reflect the disruption young people have faced to their education throughout the pandemic.

The grading of GCSEs, AS, and A levels is a decision for Ofqual, as the independent regulator of qualifications. This summer, results will be higher than when summer exams were last sat, but lower than in 2021, when grades were awarded by teacher assessment. This means the bar for achieving an A, for example, will not be as high as it might have been in 2019.

The department has asked Ofqual’s Chief Regulator, Jo Saxton, to write directly to the hon. Member about the distribution of A level and GCSE grades in summer 2022, and the steps they are taking to inform parents about grading. A copy of her reply will be placed in the library of both Houses.

The department has, in collaboration with Ofqual, worked closely with the higher education (HE) sector in shaping the decisions around exams and assessments in 2022. Following Ofqual’s September 2021 announcement on grading, universities have set entry requirements and made offers to students according to this approach. Throughout the year, we have worked with the HE sector to brief providers on the approach to grading with extensive planning ahead of results day, including on operational readiness, and ensuring support is in place for students, whatever their next steps might be this summer.

Record numbers of students have applied to university this year. UCAS is expecting the majority of firm offer holders to gain a place at their firm choice university on A level and T Level results day. Students can have confidence that getting into HE is a fair process, with admissions teams taking into account the broad range of information about a student in addition to their predicted grades, including teacher references, and for certain courses with a 15 October application deadline, their performance in admissions tests.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, he he will make an assessment of the impact of rail strikes on the ability of school pupils taking GCSE and A level examinations to travel to their exam locations; and if he will make a statement.

Answered by Robin Walker

The overwhelming majority of students are not reliant on rail transport to attend school or college, as only around 1% of 11 to 16-year-olds travel to school by train. However, the department does know that a small number of students in schools and a larger number in further education colleges will be affected either by rail disruption, or by busier roads and greater demand for other public transport. This means they will likely be experiencing additional stress and disruption at a time when they should be able to fully focus on doing their best in their exams.

Many students will be able to make alternative arrangements. Schools and colleges are also expected to play their part in supporting those students who are likely to be impacted or struggle to make alternative arrangements. Schools and colleges are also expected to have contingency arrangements in place to manage any possible disruption to exams and formal assessments, including late arrival of staff or students.

The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) have published updated guidance for centres managing exams this summer. This outlines existing flexibilities, as well as changes to the normal rules for conducting examinations, and is designed to support centres experiencing disruption. This includes additional flexibility around published start times, which could be used if an invigilator is delayed by transport disruption. Where students arrive late, centres should consult JCQ guidance on what to do. In most cases, centres should allow students to take the paper, and exam boards will determine whether that paper can be accepted, depending on how late the student is.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that grading of (a) GCSE and (b) A-Level examinations are accurate.

Answered by Robin Walker

These are matters for Ofqual, the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation. I have asked its Chief Regulator, Dr Jo Saxton, to write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.