After five years of secondary school study, Year 11 students will take their GCSE examinations in the summer term of 2023.
But when are exams, and will they be similar to exams in 2022?
We’ve produced a handy guide that includes everything that teachers will want to know - from when exams will take place (including dates for key subjects) to resit days and appeals information.
Yes - unlike GCSEs in 2022 and 2021, when only certain elements of subjects were included, this year sees a return to the full subject content for all papers.
Will there be larger gaps between exams to give students more time to study?
No. The spacing of the gaps between exam papers has returned to normal, and the longer gaps used in the 2022 exam series do not appear on the 2023 GCSE exam timetable.
Will the grading be adjusted to bring the 2023 results in line with 2022?
Although GCSE exams in 2023 will be conducted in the same way as before the pandemic, Ofqual has said it will “consider the approach to grading for 2023 in light of outcomes in 2022”.
This means there is still a chance Ofqual may take the decision to adjust grade boundaries to ensure students taking exams in 2023 are not unfairly disadvantaged.
Why were the GCSE exams in 2022 different to 2019?
GCSE grades were much higher in 2020 and 2021 because exams were not taken in person, and teacher assessment was used instead.
Therefore, to make sure students taking GCSEs in 2022 were not disadvantaged, Ofqual made some changes to the way exams were taken, and then also made adjustments to some grade boundaries to ensure students in 2022 weren’t unfairly disadvantaged.
You can read more about how exams have had to be adjusted because of the Covid-19 pandemic here.
Missing an exam due to illness
Will students still be awarded a GCSE grade if they miss an exam because of illness?
Sometimes a student will have to miss an exam if they are unwell or an accident happens.
If this happens, a grade will be calculated using either the marks from the other papers taken or their non-exam components (if applicable).
What does the school need to do if a student doesn’t sit an exam owing to illness?
In this scenario, it is very important that the school exam officer completes the correct paperwork in order to ensure the student will still receive a grade.
The school exam officer should refer to the guidance from the JCQ and the relevant exam board.
What if a student tests positive for Covid-19 before a GCSE exam?
If a student tests positive for Covid-19 then the same procedure should be followed as for any other illness.
What happens if a student has long covid during their GCSEs?
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