Guidance

Additional help for students taking exams in summer 2022: accessible postcard

Published 7 February 2022

Applies to England

An unprecedented package of support for students taking exams this year

Summer exams for GCSEs, AS and A levels will be taking place in 2022 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Ofqual and the Department for Education recognise the difficulties students may have faced during the pandemic, and changes have been made to this year’s arrangements to help students.

An unprecedented package of support has been put in place for students. Advance information will help them focus their revision. Exam boards have provided advance information for exams in most subjects. Students will have a choice of topics or content in some other GCSE subjects. Exam boards will also provide a formulae sheet and an updated equation sheet that students will have in their GCSE maths, physics and combined science exams.

This advance information will also help teachers manage revision time in the lead-up to exams. In addition, more generous grading will provide a safety net for students.

Generous grading

Exams will be graded more generously this year providing a safety net for students.

Changes to coursework

Non-exam assessment and fieldwork requirements adjusted, with flexibility in some subjects.

Optional content

There will be less content or fewer topics for students to learn in some GCSEs.

Support materials

Students will get formulae and equation sheets in some exams and won’t have to memorise as much.

Advance information

Exam boards will give information on the focus of exams for most subjects to help students revise.

Further information

Find out more about these changes at ‘Subject-by-subject support for GCSE, AS and A level students in 2022’.