What are the arrangements for GCSEs, AS and A Levels in 2021/22?

Exam adaptations for 2021/22

On 30 September 2021, the outcome of the joint DfE/Ofqual consultation on changes to the assessment of GCSEs, AS and A Levels exams in summer 2022 was published.

Summer 2022 adaptations

You can see an overview of all the measures for summer 2022 in our news story and we summarise the adaptations and non-exam assessment (NEA) for our GCSE, AS and A Levels, as well as providing information on support materials in this subject information update. 

Advanced information

To support student revision, we'll also be providing advance information about the focus of content within a specification to be assessed in summer 2022. This will be communicated by 7 February 2022, in advance of the exams, and will apply to the majority of subjects at GCSE, AS and A Level as well as Core Maths and Free Standing Maths Qualification (FSMQ).

We published a summary in December to help you and your students understand what to expect from advance information.

Formulae and data sheets for assessments in 2022

We have published formulae and data sheets for the qualifications below. Teachers and students can now use these as part of their preparations for the 2022 assessments.

• GCSE (9-1) Mathematics J560
• Level 3 FSMQ: Additional Mathematics 6993
• GCSE (9-1) Physics J249, J259
• GCSE Combined Science J250, J260

To make sure students are familiar with the data sheet prior to the exam, teachers can use it in teaching and mock assessments now. The revised data sheet only applies to the 2022 examination series and students will be given a clean printed copy in the exam.

More information and links to the formulae and data sheets can be found in our subject information update. You can also view them from each of the qualification page.

Contingency planning (Updated March 2022)

The Department for Education and Ofqual have announced information about contingencies for 2022 if exams could not go ahead and the guidance for General Qualifications also applies to Core Maths and FSMQ. This would be based on teacher assessed grades (TAGs), similar to 2021.

While the intention is for exams to take place next summer, guidance has been published for schools and colleges on collecting evidence of student work for the rest of this year in case exams were cancelled.

Guidance and a letter to students are available from Ofqual. The Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) has also published a set of summer 2022 contingency FAQs that includes responses to many of the specific questions facing private candidates regarding these assessments.

Update March 2022:

The latest advice from Ofqual and the DfE is to focus on preparing for exams and if you have sufficient evidence, you may not need to continue your contingency planning post Easter - read Jo Saxton's speech at ASCL

NEA arrangements for 2021/22

We've made changes to some of our GCSE, AS and A Level qualifications for summer 2022, based on the outcomes of the Ofqual consultation on NEA arrangements. The changes are designed to reduce the pressure on teachers and students in the 2021/22 academic year and to safeguard against ongoing public health concerns.

Please read this information alongside the specifications for each of the qualifications listed below.

Design and Technology

Students taking Design and Technology qualifications in summer 2022 will have a reduction in NEA requirements. For full details, please see the Changes for 2022 pages on the Design and Technology qualification pages:

• GCSE Design and Technology (9-1) J310
• A Level Design and Technology H404–H406 and AS Level Design and Technology H004–H006

Drama

Students taking GCSE, AS and A Level Drama in summer 2022 will have a reduction in NEA requirements. For full details, please see the Changes for 2022 pages for each qualification:

• GCSE Drama (9-1) J316
• A Level Drama and Theatre H459 and AS Level Drama and Theatre H059

English Language