What are the arrangements for GCSE, AS Level, A Level and other general qualifications in 2020/21?

We are working closely with the DfE, Ofqual and the other exam boards to give teachers and students clarity on the alternative arrangements which will be in place to give students grades this summer. We will provide regular updates via our website, our weekly updates and on social media.

We know these are challenging times for schools and colleges and to help you manage your budgets, we’ve now published our summer 2021 fees for GCSEs, AS and A Levels and other general qualifications, as well as for our Cambridge Nationals. 

We want to be transparent about our fees policy following the cancellation of exams this summer. Our published fees are based on our costs if exams were still going ahead as usual. When we have reviewed the final costs involved in giving students grades this summer, we will pass on any savings to you, as we did in 2019/20.

The joint DfE and Ofqual consultation on awarding grades this summer proposes exam boards support schools and colleges to submit grades based on teacher assessment with assessment materials, training and guidance, as well as a quality assurance process. While we don’t know what we’ll have to deliver yet, it’s likely to involve significant costs and it’ll take time to review the final costs we incur before we can confirm the savings we’ll pass on to you.

For further information on fees and invoicing, please see our FAQs on June 2021 fees.

Until we know the outcome of the consultations, and what evidence you will need to support your assessments, we would encourage you to continue, where possible, to deliver non-exam assessment (NEA) based on the normal requirements set out in the specification (or in the guide to changes document if there have been any for 2021).

Candidates working from home

For centres with candidates completing GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications with NEA components this summer, the JCQ has now provided information on how these candidates may complete work at home.