It might be the start of the summer holidays for most students, but those who have just sat their A-level exams will be facing an anxious wait for their results. With record numbers of students applying to university this year, many will have their hopes riding on getting the grades they need to get in.
Schools have faced a challenging few years with education disrupted by the Coronavirus pandemic. Last year's exams didn't take place and instead results were evidence-based and determined by teachers.
But, as the country recovers from the pandemic, regulator Ofqual's approach to grading in 2022 will be aiming to reflect a midway point between 2019 and 2021, says the Department of Education. "It means grading will be more generous than when exams last took place before the pandemic.
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"Because of this, grades will likely be higher than 2019, providing a safety net for this year’s students for those who might otherwise have missed out on a higher grade." They added: "Results in summer 2022 will be higher than in 2019, when students last sat summer exams, but lower than 2021 when grades were based on assessments by teachers."
To those who are worried about how lower grades may impact their chances of getting into university, the Department for Education said: "Universities have been excellent at making sure the way they set entry requirements and make offers to students will reflect the grades students will receive this summer.
"So, despite grades being overall lower this year, this shouldn’t affect anyone’s chances of getting into university."
AS and A Level students will get their grades on Thursday August 18, 2022.
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