GCSE, AS Level and A-Level students will be issued with advanced information about the topics their exams will cover.
It will be the first time advance information has been published about the exams. The Department for Education made the decision to assist pupils who have had their school disrupted in the run-up to the exams, which will be held this summer.
Examiners are also being asked to mark more generously this year to reflect the challenges teens have faced.
Read more: Extra revision help for GCSE and A Level students
In all subjects – with the exception of English literature, history, ancient history, geography and art and design – pupils will be given notice about the topics to be covered in this summer’s exams. Exam boards have been advised not to leak detail about what the actual questions will be.
Examples include publishing equation sheets for maths and physics exams.
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said: “Exams are the best and fairest form of assessment, and we firmly intend for them to take place this summer, giving students a fair chance to show what they know.
He added: “We know students have faced challenges during the pandemic, which is why we’ve put fairness for them at the forefront of our plans. The information to help with their revision published today, as well as the range of other adaptations, will make sure they can do themselves justice in their exams this summer.”
Ofqual chief regulator Dr Jo Saxton said students had shown “resilience” during the pandemic and that Ofqual knew “they are seeking certainty”.
“Advance information published today is one of the ways we are supporting students to have that certainty as they prepare to show what they know and can do,” she added.
“We are also ensuring there is a safety-net for students with a generous approach to grading,” she said.
What is 'advanced information' on GCSE and A-Level exams?
Last year, the Department for Education confirmed that GCSE, AS Level and A-Level pupils will be offered help with their exams, in recognition of the disruption they have faced during the coronavirus pandemic, which led to school closures, home learning, and isolation absences.
As well as making the grade boundaries more generous, pupils studying most subjects will be issued with "advanced information" about the topics their exam covers.
In a letter to teachers, the DfE said in December: "To make exams in 2022 less daunting, students will be told in advance some of the topic areas that will be included on the exam papers, helping them to manage their exam preparation. This information will be issued in the spring term to help students to focus their revision time."
It adds: "As you are aware, the first ever publication of advance information in general qualifications is a key adaptation to examinations, aiming to support students and teachers in focusing revision for exams. It is intended to make sure that we are being as fair as possible to students given the disruption they have experienced, and many continue to face, due to the coronavirus pandemic."
The information will not say exactly what the questions will be, but will identify which topics will be on the exam paper, so students can focus their revision on those.
The DfE adds: "In some cases, for example, the information will provide a list of topics that will be the focus of the exam, or parts of it. In other cases, the information will identify a section of a set work (such as a text), and the extract used in the exam will be taken from this smaller section. Other approaches have been taken elsewhere."
In GCSE English literature, history, ancient history and geography – subjects where advance information will not be released – pupils will study and be examined on fewer topics.
Where can I find the advanced information about GCSE, AS Level and A Level exam topics?
Each exam board responsible for the tests will publish the information on its website.
The information will be published at some point on Monday February 7, 2022.
Students will need to know which exam board's exams they are taking for each subject, as it can vary.
AQA's will be published on its website.
OCR's will be published on its site, which you can find here.
Pearson/Edexcel will publish its information here (scroll down to Summer 2022 support, then click on level and subject.)
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