Ofqual Update - Adaptations to exam arrangements 2022 teacher survey

This year, a number of adaptations have been made to the assessment arrangements for GCSEs, AS and A levels, following a joint consultation by the Department for Education (DfE) and Ofqual. The aim of these adaptations is to make sure that we are being as fair as possible to students, given the disruption they have experienced due to the pandemic. This survey will focus on 3 of these adaptations, which are described below. 

On 7 February 2022, advance information about the content of GCSE, AS and A level exams in most subjects was published by the exam boards, AQA, Eduqas, OCR and Pearson. The purpose of advance information is to help students focus their revision and make exams less daunting. It is not intended to reduce the amount of content that must be studied or assessed for any GCSE, AS, or A level qualification. Ofqual wants to understand teachers’, tutors', and home-educators' views and experiences of using this advance information to support their students’ preparation for exams. 

In addition to advance information, students taking GCSEs in mathematics, physics, and combined science do not need to memorise as many formulae or equations as usual. The exam boards have provided copies of formulae and expanded equation sheets for use during teaching and learning, and clean copies of these will be provided in the exams this summer. 

In GCSE English literature, history, ancient history and geography, where advance information was not released, students do not need to study, or be assessed on, as many topics or content areas as usual. Centres were given some choice about the topics or content areas students have been required to study in preparation for their exams. 

Ofqual would like to know what you think about these adaptations now, prior to the exams. If you are teaching, tutoring, or home-educating students taking a qualification this summer in which any of these adaptations are in place, As Ofqual we would appreciate your views.  

Ofqual also intend to survey teachers, tutors, and home-educators again shortly after exam results are released in August 2022 to gather views on how these adaptations worked overall. 

 This survey will remain open until 11.59pm on Sunday 15 May 2022.