An Overview of What to Expect in 2023's GSCEs

Changes in Examinations for this Year , Key Dates and More.

Before we can learn and understand how to effectively prepare for these exams while maintaining success in other areas of our lives, it would likely be beneficial to first understand what we will be facing when May 2023 inevitably rolls around.

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Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

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Previous Pandemic GSCE Arrangments.

Brief Context of the Previous History of GSCEs vs COVID-19 in case you’ve been living under a rock:

• 2020 GSCE and A Level Exams: Cancelled and Internal School Predictions + Mocks used instead.

• 2021 GSCE and A level Exams: Cancelled and Internal School Predictions + Mocks used instead.

• (lucky them)

• 2022 GSCE and A Level Exams: Not Cancelled BUT More Generous Grade Boundaries were established to offer students a ‘safety net’ due to the impact of COVID on Learning. As well as being given Advanced Information on each Exam by Exam Boards advising Students to revise certain topics in greater or lesser depth

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Changes for 2023…

Now for Our Year (2023) :

GSCEs are NOT cancelled ;( (but you’re likely already aware of that)

A Statement by AQA:

“GCSE, AS, and A-level exams in England will largely return to pre-pandemic arrangements next summer as young people continue to recover from the pandemic. In line with the plans set out last September, Ofqual has confirmed a return to pre-pandemic grading in 2023.

To protect students against the disruption of recent years, and in case students' performance is slightly lower than before the pandemic, senior examiners will use the grades achieved by previous cohorts of pupils, along with prior attainment data, to inform their decisions about where to set grade boundaries.

This mirrors the approach used in the first years of reformed GCSEs and A levels in 2017, when early cohorts were protected against the impact of changes to the qualifications and means, for example, a typical A level student who would have achieved a grade A before the pandemic will be just as likely to get an A this summer” - https://www.aqa.org.uk

In Summary: Grading will be Similar to Before COVID, But Examiners are going to Take Into Account Prior Attainment Data as well as previous Results to ensure that someone who would be likely to get an A* Pre-COVID will be just as likely to get an A* this Summer.

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2023 GSCE Assistance

After a Consultation with Ofqual and the Department of Education (Dfe) from 29 September 2022 to 20 October 2022 at 11:45 pm.

The Following Conclusion was reached:

“DfE has also announced that, in 2023, students are not required to memorise formulae for GCSE mathematics and equations for GCSE physics and combined science

Respondents who supported the proposal said that this was appropriate considering the disruption to education due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Respondents thought that providing this support would be fair when comparing these students to previous cohorts and that it would make the experience of taking exams less stressful for students and increase their confidence.” - https://www.gov.uk

TLDR:

Students sitting exams for 2023 will receive Formula Sheets for Mathematics, Physics and Combined Science and will therefore not be required to memorise the required Equations.

Lucky Us.

IF you are currently sitting your GSCE Exams in England from 2023 and onwards, you may want to take a look at Ofqual’s proposed adaptation to the assessment of GCSE modern foreign languages (MFL) qualifications

Furthermore, if you are studying Vocational / Technical Qualifications then take a look at this

Lastly, Anybody studying Exams with a Physical Assessment such as GSCE Drama, PE, Media Studies etc. Your Exams may be subject to adjustment

DfE and Ofqual have still taken precautions by announcing :

With the return to exams, the national closure of schools or cancellation of exams – which would mean using alternative assessment arrangements – is now very unlikely. The government does not expect to ever be in the situation again where exams do not go ahead, but they've recognised that good public policy means having contingency, even for extremely unlikely scenarios.

The DfE and Ofqual invites views on guidance to schools and colleges about gathering assessment evidence to support resilience in the exams system in the unlikely event it is necessary to use that evidence to inform Teacher Assessed Grades. It's designed to allow schools and colleges to determine arrangements to gather evidence that align with their normal arrangements for preparing students for exams.

In Short, DfE and Ofqual find it very unlikely that Exams will be cancelled once more this year and Teacher Assigned Grades will be used.

However, they are still promoting the gathering of Internal Exams and Reports to report TAGs to maintain due diligence correctly.

Exam Timetable and Scheduling

Luckily on November 17th AQA finally confirmed the GSCE 2023 May&June Timetable and can be found here

Word of Advice: Save this Timetable Link somewhere as it generously contains a Super Efficient System of Links and Tables of Content to tell you exact dates based on your Subject.

And will definitely be your best friend during Peak Exam Season.

Deadlines for Submitted Coursework or Non-Exam Deadlines can be found here

And If you’re just that kind of person you can find every single tiny little Kind-Of Non-Important Deadline here and here

Bear in Mind that this Applies only to the AQA Exam Board. (As that is the Most Common Board Used by Schools)

Information on Edexcel’s Scheduling can be found here

Information for Other Boards such as OCR or WJEC can be found on their respective Websites

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Hopefully, that armed you with sufficient knowledge to tackle upcoming Exams head on and hopefully prevent you from finding out about these changes the Day before your first Exam (Biology Paper 1 / Combined Sci Paper 1 16th May).

Until next time...