Michael Gove outlines ‘alternative arrangements’ for exams

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The coronavirus pandemic has caused havoc in UK schools, with students being forced to learn online for part of the year while having any in-person study disrupted by closures due to self-isolation measures. But GCSE results will still be coming out for students in England and Wales on August 12.

The Department for Education spokesperson said in early January: “The Government position is that we will not be asking students to sit GCSE and A-Levels.”

Exams were abandoned in Scotland prior to England and Wales.

In England, the Government “very much hopes and intends” for exams to go ahead in 2022, according to Education Secretary Gavin Williamson.

Results for this year are coming out earlier than usual to give A Level students more time to prepare for university while the coronavirus pandemic is still happening.

What are grade boundaries?

A grade boundary is a minimum mark at which a letter grade can be achieved.

For example, if the grade boundary for a B mark is 50 marks, then that is the minimum amount of marks required to achieve a B.

A mark of 50 or 51 would therefore be a B grade, whereas a mark of 49 would be a C grade.

Grade boundaries are not the same for each subject, as different subjects are marked differently.

Grade boundaries are set once all exam scripts across the country have been marked, so they are dependent on how students do as a whole.

This is because it is only possible once all the marking has been completed to see how difficult students found the paper, which is taken into account when setting the boundaries.

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What are the GSCE grade boundaries for 2021?

This year there are no grade boundaries, as no GCSE exams were sat due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Students are instead being awarded grades assigned by their teachers.

Teachers create these grades by putting together results of mock exams, predicted grades, essays and class performance.

Can I appeal my results?

Last year there was widespread anger when a particular algorithm was used to determine grades, meaning some students were marked down harshly.

Students are able to appeal their GCSE grades if they think it does not accurately reflect the work put in.

The first appeal will go through your school or college.

If you’re still unhappy, you can appeal your grades with England’s exam board, Ofqual.

The appeal deadline is Friday, September 17.

Students will also have the opportunity to sit exams in autumn if they are unhappy with their grades.

Students will have the choice of which subjects to sit exams in.

If a student sits exams and the result comes out lower than the teacher awarded grade, they can use the higher of the two grades in any further university or job applications.

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