2022 exam changes

Find everything you need to know about assessment in 2022, from subject changes to information on grading, results days and contingency arrangements.

Grading in the summer 2022 exam series

Ofqual has confirmed its plans for grading standards for the summer 2022 exam series.

In a blog last September they explained their plan for a fair and gradual return to pre-pandemic grading standards.

• Summer 2022 will be a transition year to reflect that we’re in a pandemic recovery period. There will be more generous grading of exams this year compared to a normal exam year.
• In 2023, Ofqual will aim to return to results that are in line with those in pre-pandemic years.

What this means for summer 2022

As we move back to pre-pandemic standards, overall results will be lower than in 2021 when teacher-assessed grades were used, but higher than in 2019 when summer exams were last held.

• The approach exam boards take to grading will reflect a midpoint between summer 2019 and 2021.
• Results will look different to summer 2021, because the nature of the assessment is different – so it’ll be more meaningful to make comparisons with 2019 results, because this is when exams were last sat.
• Results in summer 2022 will be higher than when summer exams were last sat (in 2019), but lower than in 2021, when grades were awarded by teacher assessment.
• Schools’ and colleges’ results are highly likely to be lower than in 2021 when exams did not go ahead. This means very few schools or colleges, if any, will get higher results than in 2021.
• As in any year, there will be an important role for examiner judgement in grading. After marking is complete, senior examiners will review the quality of student work over a range of marks, before recommending grade boundaries based on all of the available evidence.

You can also read Ofqual's blog on 10 things to know about GCSE, AS and A-level grades this summer, and for vocational, technical and other qualifications (VTQs), you can read Ofqual’s VTQ blog.

Results days in 2022

Summer 2022 results days will be one week apart as usual.

• Thursday 18 August – AS, A-levels and similar VTQs
• Thursday 25 August – GCSEs and similar VTQs

Qualifications with no changes for 2022

• Level 1 and Level 2 Project
• Extended Project (EPQ)
• ELC Step up to English
• ELC Maths
• Functional Skills English
• Functional Skills Maths

Advance information

To help students revise, we published advance information about the focus of exams for most subjects at GCSE, AS and A-level.

Advance information is one part of the package of changes for 2022. For some qualifications we’ve introduced other changes, such as optionality, changes to non-exam assessment (NEA) and fieldwork requirements, and providing equation sheets in exams.

We’ve recently added advance information for the November 2022 exams in GCSE Maths and English Language.

Use the dropdown menu below to find advance information and other changes for your subjects.

For more details, read the Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) guidance for teachers and students on the use of advance information for 2022.

You can also read our summary and guidance on advance information.