The government has unveiled what will happen to exams this year after announcing school will be closed from today.
In a statement on the government website they revealed that GCSEs, AS and A Levels will be awarded in July based on mock data, individual assessment and prior attainment.
Students can also sit exams early in next academic year or summer 2021. The Department for Education said that this year’s A-level and GCSE grades will be indistinguishable from those provided in other years.
It said it would also aim to ensure that the distribution of grades follows a similar pattern to that in other years, so that this year’s students do not face a systematic disadvantage as a consequence of these extraordinary circumstances.
Teachers will be asked to take into account a range of evidence and data including performance on mock exams and non-exam assessment clear guidance on how to do this fairly and robustly this will be provided to schools and colleges.
The guidance adds: The exam boards will then combine this information with other relevant data, including prior attainment, and use this information to produce a calculated grade for each student, which will be a best assessment of the work they have put in.
Final guidance on the procedure used will be published after talks with teachers unions and education bodies.
The Department said it recognises that some students may feel disappointed that they have not been able to sit their exams.