A levels 2022

[Niceday203]

Advanced information for A levels shared a week ago now for DC taking exams this summer. From what I can see, the advanced information is of no help at all. While some information is given on areas certain topics areas - apparently to answer questions properly, children need to access and reference the entire course anyway. I realise for a couple of subjects this may not be accurate. I just think this cohort has never had the chance to sit a proper exam( their GCSE's were cancelled) The disruption to their sixth form education is severe- remote schooling followed by isolating teachers, students isolating themselves and then it seems even more competition for uni places following the last two years of chaos.

Is this really the best the DoE can offer?

The grade boundaries are being lowered too so that 35% will get A*/A. Next year it will be back down to pre covid levels of 20%.

Dd is taking Physics. Apparently she is being tested on the entire syllabus with the focus on Space, the last subject that is still being taught.

What covid?

The whole year group will have lower grade boundaries so higher grades.

My dc is also having to revise the entire syllabus in maths and further maths apparently. Not sure about their other subjects.

My DS was in the 2020 cohort. When lockdown happened they still had not finished the syllabus in some subjects, never mind started on past papers. Come results day and the rankings DS was left without a university place and grades that did not reflect what he was capable of. His only option was to sit the October exams.

DS had not picked up a book in 5 months and had 6 weeks to relearn and revise the entire syllabus for 2 subjects. His school offered no support, not even the text book for six weeks. Their priority were there current students. The government promised lower grade boundaries... yep they came down from. say, 72% to 71% and the papers they sat were full papers with June 2020 on the front, and no reduced content.

Your DC just have to work hard and be fully prepared. Don't get hung up by government promises as these will be just be paying lip service. Just be thankful the exams are going ahead.

DS went up three grades and is now at his first choice university. What seemed a disaster at the time worked out for the best.

Skerryberry - I think you have misunderstood about those October grade boundaries. They were calculated as a curve so a high percentage of students got the higher grade. The fact that fewer people took the October set and some only took say one subject led to more getting higher marks but the grade boundaries were set so more people got A*/A etc.

As someone who was highly invested in the October 2020 exam series and studied many forums and exam board grade boundary sites, I can assure you that the government promises that grade boundaries would be generous did not happen. There were very little difference in the 2019 boundaries and the October 2020 boundaries, certainly not 35% A*-A.

What everyone was predicting, simply did not happen. That is why the 2022 cohort can not rely on rumours that grade boundaries will be generous etc. they need to revise hard and go by the 2019 boundaries and expect the 2022 boundaries to be a percentage or so lower.