Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

2023 A levels and GCSEs

16 replies

portico · 21/03/2022 16:28

Hi
I have a DS taking A Levels in 2023. Info us think on the ground re levels and GCSEs, but I know they will be sat as external exams.

Struggling to find useful news references on the net.

Does anyone know if 2023 cohorts will be subject to similar grade boundaries as this year’s 2022 cohort.

OP posts:
Original poster
portico · 21/03/2022 16:34

Apologies for typos - it’s supposed to say:

“Info is thin on the ground re A levels and GCSEs, but I know they will be sat as external exams. “

OP posts:
titchy · 21/03/2022 17:37

No. Grade boundaries for next year will be set to get back to the 2019 results profile. This year they're half way between 2019 and 2021.

clary · 21/03/2022 21:01

Tbh I think the plan is for it to be back to normal. For lots of GCSEs there have only been a couple of years of new spec boundaries anyway, so I guess there is continuing minor adjustment possible. But not much I expect.

A level specs have been in place for longer. I think you need to assume BAU OP.

AlexaShutUp · 21/03/2022 21:03

I have a dd who will be taking A-levels next year. We're assuming that the grade boundaries will be back to normal.

Tree543 · 21/03/2022 21:04

@titchy

No. Grade boundaries for next year will be set to get back to the 2019 results profile. This year they're half way between 2019 and 2021.
I read this somewhere too. It seems pretty unfair on those taking A levels in 2023 if they are going to be competing for Uni places with those who took them in 2022
RedskyThisNight · 22/03/2022 13:15

It seems pretty unfair on those taking A levels in 2023 if they are going to be competing for Uni places with those who took them in 2022

Covid has not been fair to everyone. It was pretty unfair for those applying for university last year and this year as well. This way seems the least unfair.

AlexaShutUp · 22/03/2022 13:21

The grade boundaries will have to go back to normal at some point. It's hard for the year group that might lose out the most, but I think they will just have to suck it up. Life isn't always fair.

Original poster
portico · 22/03/2022 19:26

Thank you all for the feedback responses. I sensed it would be 2019 grade boundaries for A Levels, so printed them out for my son. At least we now know what we are aiming for. And, the new specs have been examined since 2017, so quite a few papers to practise on 🙏

OP posts:
SeasonFinale · 25/03/2022 02:52

The actual marks (grade boundaries) may not be similar. It will be curved so that only 19% get A*/A rather than 35%.

tadger98 · 25/03/2022 10:34

I think it's a more nuanced than that . Head of ofqual said the following in a speech a couple of weeks back:

'When we announced the grading arrangements for this year, we confirmed that in 2023, we would aim to return to normal results: those in line with pre-pandemic years. As you would expect, we will carefully review qualification outcomes in 2022 and we will continue to watch the path of the pandemic and its impact closely, because I need to be sure that we get the approach to grading absolutely right for students. I’ve been talking to year 10s and 12s on some of the school visits that I do. I understand that they are really conscious of the things they’ve missed. Not just in lockdowns.'

The key phrases here are 'in-line with pre-pandemic years' and 'need to get the approach to grading right'. So what I infer from that is there is the option for some flexibility depending what they hear from schools on students learning over Y10 and Y11 ahead of 2023 exams, and also of course what happens with the pandemic.

Original poster
portico · 25/03/2022 18:19

Tbh, I typed up the A Level grade boundaries and raw marks by subject by year. My son has his 2019 targets to aim for. We will practise past and aim for those 2019 grade boundaries.

OP posts:
Original poster
portico · 31/03/2022 20:18

Hi
I just wondered what qns are used in Y12 ucas exams. Is it qns from AS papers, Y12 content from A Level papers or qns from both AS and A Level papers.

Any advice from sixth form subject teacher would be welcome

OP posts:
Original poster
portico · 31/03/2022 20:33

By Y12 ucas exams, I mean the EOY Y12 internally set and marked exams

OP posts:
clary · 31/03/2022 21:16

I imagine it would depend on the school. And also on the subject.

In my subject (MFL), for example, I think there is only a limited value in using AS papers if the student is not sitting the AS exam, as the format of the questions is different from the A-level papers. On the other hand, it can sometimes be useful for the purpose of easing in. But I would set an A level question on the film studied, as being more related to the exam they will sit next year.

Could you not ask the school or your child?

JaffavsCookie · 31/03/2022 21:57

That will definitely depend on the school, and the cohort. We usually use AS questions but they are easier than A level, i will be pushing for this years cohort to sit an A level paper to give them a better idea of where they are

Original poster
portico · 31/03/2022 22:13

Thanks Clary and JaffavsCookie
I’m on to physics and maths tutor now

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page