Ofqual has today (November 16th 2012) confirmed that exam boards will not set grade boundaries for GCSE English and GCSE English Language for the January 2013 assessments. Instead, only raw marks will be available and all further work on setting standards and grading, will be carried out following the June exam series.

This change was first announced by Ofqual in its full report into GCSE English awarding this summer, published earlier this month. Ofqual’s report identified a number of risks which could still affect 2013 students. Therefore this change is being made to protect those students as much as possible, and to protect the security and standards of the qualifications.  No grades, or other information about aggregate performance, will be issued for January 2013 assessments (whether exam or controlled assessment) until June 2013 assessments have also been marked. Awards for both January and June assessments will be made at the same time.

 You can download the change here:

Special condition and dis-application of Condition

Ends

Notes to editors:

In relation to GCSE English and English Language qualifications, a special condition has now been issued by Ofqual which sets new rules for exam boards which offer units in January 2013. Ofqual has said that AQA, Edexcel, OCR and WJEC;

• Must assess and mark GCSE English and GCSE English Language assessments (both written examinations and controlled assessments) as usual;

• Must not set any grade boundaries or award any GCSE English and GCSE English Language units in January 2013;

• Must only issue raw marks to centres, which centres may share with candidates;

• Must not prepare or release any aggregated data or other information which could enable others to anticipate likely grade boundaries;

• Must undertake all awarding relating to GCSE English and GCSE English Language for January and June, together in summer 2013.

Students may still submit an enquiry about results (EAR) for any raw marks they receive from January assessments. However, a further EAR cannot be submitted for that same unit in June when the student receives their full qualification award. Students can also cash in all their units during the January exam season, but their final grade will not be released until August.

Students due to complete these two qualifications in summer 2013 will be the last to take these qualifications on a modular basis in England. 

The Welsh Government has agreed to impose a special condition in parallel to Ofqual’s.