Changes to GCSE and A Level exams in 2022 | How to support your pupils this year

Hey tutors 👋 Recently Ofqual – the exams regulator – updated how exams at GCSE, AS, and A Level will run and how current year 11s, 12s and 13s will be affected. Why? Mainly to make sure this year’s exam takers are being treated fairly. This is due to the disruption they’ve experienced, and continue to face, because of (you guessed it) the coronavirus pandemic.

They’ve created a support package for students in England taking exams this summer. But don’t worry – to break it down, we’ve highlighted all the major updates for you.

Contents 📗

Overview

Exam boards

Specific subject changes

Overview 📝

In a nutshell, here’s what’s changing:

• Changes to coursework – Non-exam assessment and fieldwork requirements will be adjusted, with more flexibility in some subjects

• Optional content – For some GCSEs, there’ll be less content or fewer topics for students to learn (less work for you to cover!)

• Generous grading – Exams will be graded more generously this year, providing a safety net for students

• Support materials – Students will get formulae and equation sheets in some exams, so they don’t have to memorise as much and are better equipped

• Advance information – To help students revise, exam boards will give information on the focus of exams for most subjects – so you know exactly what topics to base your tutoring session around

Exam boards 🏫

Exam boards have also published specific information about the changes for each qualification they offer, so be sure to check out their websites for more information:

• AQA

• OCR

• Pearson Edexcel 

• WJEC Eduquas

Specific subject changes ➗

Here are some of the changes for GCSE subjects you might tutor:

• Biology

• Chemistry

• Combined Science 

• English language

• English literature

• Geography

• History

• Maths

• Modern foreign languages

• Physics

And changes for A Level subjects you might tutor:

• Biology

• Business

• Chemistry

• Economics

• English language

• English literature

• Further maths

• Geography

• History

• Law

• Maths

• Modern foreign languages

• Physics

• Politics

• Psychology  

• Sociology

For more information, visit the government’s page for subject-by-subject support, or get in touch with our support team to ask for more information from the school of the pupil (or pupils) you tutor!

As always, if you have any questions or feedback, we’d love to hear from you. You can reach us on [email protected] or 0203 773 6024.