By Vanessa Clarke
Education reporter
Exam season is beginning for A-level and other students across the UK.
For many pupils, it is the first time they will have sat formal exams, because GCSEs did not go ahead as normal during the pandemic.
This year exams are mostly returning to what they were like pre-Covid, but there are still some changes to how things will work, depending on where you live.
When does school exam season start and finish?
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, exams begin for A-level students on 15 May, and finish at the end of June.
Vocational technical qualifications (VTQs) are mostly assessed through practical learning, but there are some exams and assessments throughout the year. Courses with summer exams include:
- T-levels
- Business and Technology Education Council courses, or BTecs
- Cambridge Technicals
International Baccalaureate (IB) exams will run from 27 April to 19 May.
In Scotland, Highers and Advanced Highers started at the end of April and finish on 31 May.
Are exams and results still different because of Covid?
As usual, senior examiners will decide the minimum marks needed for each grade.
However, because of the disruption caused by Covid, in England exam boards will be “slightly” more lenient than before the pandemic when deciding grade boundaries.
This will protect students who perform slightly less well in these exams than expected, based on their previous grades and average exam performance.
Results are expected to drop down much closer to pre-pandemic levels this year, after three years of higher grades.
Exam papers in the same subject will be more spaced out than they were before the pandemic, to give students more time to revise between papers.
T-levels will be graded generously, as they are relatively new qualifications.
The Welsh Joint Education Committee exam board has also provided advance information for its papers across a range of subjects – revealing the focus of some of the questions – to help pupils revise.
There is no advance information for any other papers taken in Wales.
And unlike last year, Qualification Wales, which oversees Welsh exams, says there have been no changes to the content of courses.
The Scottish Qualification Authority (SQA) said its grading would be “sensitive” due to the continuing impact of the pandemic.
It has taken similar steps to last year to help students, such as removing or reducing exams or elements of coursework. It plans for exams to go fully back to normal next year.
The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment (CCEA), the exam board which covers most pupils in Northern Ireland, has provided advance information for most subjects and says examiners will take Covid disruption into account.
Image source, Getty Images
Students have received less additional help this year compared with other years, following the pandemic
What happens if I am ill for my exam?
If you are unwell on the day of your exam, you should contact your school or college as soon as possible.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you will be asked to fill out a form and your school or college will use this to request “special consideration” from your exam board.
In Scotland, if you are ill, your school, college or training provider can submit an “exceptional circumstance” request.
You could still be awarded a grade as long as you have completed at least one other exam or assessment for that qualification.
When is exam result day 2023?
SQA results will be published on 8 August.
AS and A-level results will be released on 17 August.
Vocational and technical qualification students will receive their results on or before 17 August.
Image source, Getty Images
Results this year are expected to drop back to almost pre-Covid levels
How can I appeal against exam results?
If you’re unhappy with your result, you should talk to your school or college.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, your school will contact the exam board on your behalf and ask for your marks to be reviewed.
If you still think you’ve been unfairly graded after a review, you can ask your school or college to appeal.
The exam board will consider correcting your mark.
BTec students can also appeal directly to the award body.
If you’re still not satisfied, you can request a review from the exams regulator, Ofqual.
In Scotland, the process is slightly different.
If your final grade is lower than your grade estimate, you can appeal directly to the SQA. Speak to your school or college first.
If your appeal is accepted, the exam board will look at the marks you received.
What if I don’t get the grades I need?
The charity YoungMinds points out that results are not the only measure of success – and if things do not turn out how you had hoped, there are lots of ways to get you to where you want to go.
If you only just miss out on the grades you need to get on to a university or college course, the admissions office might accept you anyway, or offer you a place on a different course.
You can also apply to Ucas’ clearing process, which is how universities and colleges fill empty places.
It may also be possible to resit some or all of your exams. Talk to your school or college if you want to explore this route.
Alternatively, you can consider an apprenticeship or a traineeship. There are also entry-level jobs for those who want to go straight into work.
You could also consider taking a gap year to give you more time to decide on your future path.
