Exam results will be lower this year in most schools and colleges, the body responsible for qualifications in Wales has warned. How much lower grades will be compared to last summer depends on how students performed in the first GCSE, AS and A levels sat for three years, as well as changes in results during that time.
Jo Richards, Director of Regulations for Independent regulator Qualifications Wales said comparisons should be made with 2019 results, the last year papers were sat. Record GCSE, A and AS level results were posted in 2020 and 2021 when they were awarded on teacher assessed grades after exams were cancelled during the pandemic - the aim this year is to achieve results around midway between the last sat exams and last summer's results - but they won't be exactly half way, said Ms Richards.
This year’s grading is being arrived at by subject level, not at a school or college level, which means that schools and colleges will see different levels of change in their results relative to 2021 and 2019, Ms Richards said. Content was reduced this year to take account of another year of pandemic disruption with tens of thousands of pupils sent to work remotely again and many without subject teachers for weeks on end.
