Update: on 17 August 2020, Ofqual announced that students will now receive centre assessment grades, or calculated grades if they were higher.

Ofqual has confirmed the arrangements for the awarding of GCSE, AS and A Level grades this summer.

Confirmation comes after analysis of over 12,500 responses to Ofqual’s consultation on the exceptional arrangements for exam grading in summer 2020 following the earlier cancellation of exams.

It is now confirmed that students will be awarded calculated grades this summer in GCSEs, AS and A Levels, and in Extended Project Qualifications, based on the submission of centre assessment grades and rank orders after 82% of consultation respondents agreed with the proposal to adopt this grading process this summer.

Exam boards will only accept centre assessment grades and student rank orders from a school or college, when the head of centre or their nominated deputy has made a declaration as to their accuracy and integrity.  Inappropriate disclosure of centre assessment grades will be malpractice.

To make sure grades are as fair as possible, exam boards will standardise centre assessment grades using a statistical model.

Appeals will be allowed where a school or college believes it made an error when submitting its information, or if it believes an exam board made a mistake when calculating, assigning or communicating a grade. Ofqual has confirmed that it will do further work in this area to explore if there are grounds for appeal if a centre can demonstrate a significant change in the demographic make-up of its 2020 cohort in a subject.

Ofqual had already announced that Year 10s and below could receive results this summer and provided further details on options for private candidates to receive calculated grades.

Linked to the confirmation of these arrangements, Ofqual has launched a separate consultation on the additional autumn series for GCSE, AS and A Levels.

Arrangements for the awarding of vocational and technical qualifications this summer have also been confirmed.