The Latest Breaking News from Ofqual

Education experts issue warning amid return to pre-pandemic grading standards

A return to pre-pandemic grading means this year’s results in England will be lower than last year.

Students across England are receiving lower grades than they might have done in 2022. The percentage of A or A* grades given for A-levels has fallen from 35.9% to 26.5% in 2023. Pupils’ grades are closer to those from before the pandemic, when 25.2% of results were at A or…

Teenagers now face a scramble to secure university places

Sharp drop is part of ministers’ plan to get grades back to 2019 levels, but disadvantaged pupils are likely to bear the brunt

Overall A-level pass rate at lowest level for 15 years as government backs decision to return to pre-pandemic grading

Hundreds of thousands of students in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have received their results.

Vivienne Stern, chief executive of Universities UK, has advised school leavers to do some preparation ahead of A-level results day.

Geoff Barton said the return to pre-pandemic grading in England will feel like a ‘bitter pill’ for many students receiving their A-level results.