Summer Exams 2020
In their statement on March 18th, the Department for Education confirmed that GCSEs and A Levels "will not go ahead this Summer". On 20th March they provided a further statement with clarity on how grades will be awarded.
What we think this means :
tutors and teachers will be asked “to submit their judgement about the grade that they believe the student would have received if exams had gone ahead.” The tutors or teachers judgement will be based on “a range of evidence and data including performance on mock exams and non-exam assessment”.
“The exam boards will use combination of data, including prior attainment, and use this information to produce a calculated grade for each student, which will be a best assessment of the work they have put in.”
There will be a process of appeal for GCSE and A level results
Our previous blog on the outbreak
“In addition, if they do not feel their calculated grade reflects their performance, they will have the opportunity to sit an exam at the earliest reasonable opportunity, once schools are open again. Students will also have the option to sit their exams in summer 2021.”
What to consider:
We do not know when teachers need to submit their judgement and what format. Submitting of judgement is complex and will need to carefully considered. There will be the opportunity to appeal and to resit in the earliest opportunity and sit exams in the Autumn.
GCSE Students who need to enter sixth form. A level students who miss out on their preferred university based on the judgement of their teachers.
What we think the best solution is for A level and GCSE candidates
Be ready to have some lessons and build a rapport with tutors and teachers
Have evidence that the teacher can submit to the exam boards
Prepare the opportunity to sit the exams next opportunity
Calmly prepare for the next stage of education
Cambridge International exams
As this stands at the moment IGCSE are still planned to go ahead.
What will happen to uni applications and UCAS?
government's statement of March 20, They have been told and no doubt will be flexible in their opportunities for applications to their courses. What this really means for candidates to the universities to speak to their course co ordinators.
We wait to see what will happen for the Autumn 2021 exams .
