PRESS RELEASE : Plans to support students in 2023 exams confirmed [November 2022]

The press release issued by the Department for Education on 30 November 2022.

Decisions for GCSE maths, physics, combined science and modern foreign languages published following consultations.

Proposals to support students taking exams in some GCSE subjects in summer 2023 have been given the go-ahead after 2 Ofqual public consultations.

Permanent changes to assessment requirements in modern foreign language (MFL) GCSEs will also be introduced.

The outcome of a consultation on proposed changes to the assessment of mathematics, physics and combined science and a consultation outcome on proposed changes to the assessment of MFL from 2023 published today show:

• more than 90 per cent of respondents – including students and teachers – supported proposals to continue to require exam boards to provide formulae and revised equations sheets for GCSE mathematics, physics and combined science exams in 2023
• more than 95 per cent strongly agreed or agreed with proposals in GCSE modern foreign language (MFL) to remove permanently the requirement for exam boards to include unfamiliar vocabulary that is not on vocabulary lists. This will take effect for assessments from 2023 onwards

The Department for Education (DfE) confirmed its expectations for subject content in September. Ofqual then published its consultations on the arrangements for each, while the DfE hosted a separate consultation on minor amendments to the MFL subject content.

Ofqual Chief Regulator Dr Jo Saxton said: “In 2023, students will again have the opportunity to show what they know and can do in exams. We have listened to feedback and today’s decisions, together with some protection on grading, offer the degree of support students need as we move towards normality, while guarding against over-testing.”

Ofqual also today publishes the outcome of its joint consultation with the DfE on proposals to build resilience in the exam system for GCSE, AS, A level, Project and AEA qualifications. Ofqual and the DfE have decided to introduce guidance to support schools and colleges to gather evidence of student performance that could be used to determine grades, in the unlikely event that exams are not able to go ahead as planned.