Ofqual has published a consultation on the principles for 2021 exam topic advance information and support materials.

As previously announced, students will be given advance information for many subjects ahead of sitting GCSE, AS and A Level exams next summer. The nature of this will vary from subject to subject. Some support materials, such as formulae sheets and equations, will also be provided, for science and maths exams for example.

Exam boards will decide what information will be provided to teachers and students before the exams. This information will be published at the end of January 2021.

Before then, Ofqual is seeking views on the broad principles that:

• Advance information should not be so detailed that a student is able to memorise answers to write in an exam
• The information provided before an exam should not encourage students to overly narrow their learning
• The qualifications should differentiate between students on the basis of their performance.

Ofqual is also seeking views on any equality-related implications of the approach.

The consultation deadline is Sunday 20 December.