Reforms to GCSE, AS and A level qualifications
September 2014

Reforms to GCSE, AS and A level qualifications
Changes are being made to GCSE, AS and A level qualifications.
These changes will come into force over the next few years:
September 2015 –teaching begins for first tranche of new GCSEs and reformed A levels
September 2016 – more subjects start to be taught at both GCSE and A level
September 2017 – remaining subjects start to be taught. Any subjects not reformed and approved by then will be withdrawn
(see later slides for lists of subjects)

Responsibilities for reform
Government – Department for Education
Decides overall policy on qualifications
Arrangements for content/curriculum development
Ofqual
Responsible for securing overall standards in qualifications
Sets rules for, and monitors, exam board performance
Sets criteria for design of qualifications (eg how they are structured, how they are assessed) and accepts new qualifications onto the ‘Register for
Regulated Qualifications’
Oversees awarding of GCSEs, AS and A levels to ensure standards are maintained consistently and fairly
Exam boards
Design and deliver qualifications

Purpose of GCSEs
The primary purpose of new GCSEs is to provide evidence of students’ achievements against demanding and fulfilling content, a strong foundation for further academic and vocational study and for employment. If required, they should be able to provide a basis for schools and colleges to be held accountable for the performance of all their students.

New GCSEs
Intended to be taught from September 2015:
Maths
English language
English literature
Intended to be taught from September 2016:
Geography
History
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Double science
Ancient languages
Modern foreign languages
Art and design
Dance
Music
Physical education
Computer science
Religious studies
Design and technology
Drama
Citizenship studies

What will new GCSEs look like?
Structure
– linear (not broken into separately assessed units, with all exams in the summer at the end of the course
(Resits of the whole qualification available in November for GCSEs in maths and English language only, for those aged 16+)
Assessment – exam where possible, other forms of assessment only where necessary to assess essential subject skills
Tiered assessments – only where necessary
Grading – new numbered scale from 9 to 1 (plus U), 9 is the highest
Standard – accessible to the same proportion of Key Stage 4 students as at present

New GCSE grading system
New grading system reflects the step change in expectations of students
Awarding will be done using judgements informed by data, rather than a criterion or norm referencing approach
National reference test will be used to help identify changes in performance between cohorts
Ofqual will use the established comparable outcomes approach to manage risk of unfair disadvantage or advantage to cohorts in first few years of new
GCSEs

New GCSE grading system
Students will achieve grades 1 to 9 (or U) - 9 is the highest
Broadly the same proportion of students will get grade 7 and above as currently get A & A*
For each examination, the top 20% of those who get 7 or above will get a 9
Grade 5 will be positioned in the top third of marks for a current grade C and bottom third of marks for a current grade B
Broadly the same proportion of students will get grade 4 and above as currently achieve a grade C and above
The bottom of grade 1 will align to the bottom of current grade G

Purpose of A level qualifications
A levels should: define and assess achievement of the knowledge, skills and understanding which will be needed by students planning to progress to undergraduate study at a UK higher education establishment, particularly (although not only) in the same subject area a strong foundation for further academic and vocational study and for employment set out a robust and internationally comparable post-16 academic course of study to develop that knowledge, skills and understanding permit UK universities to accurately identify the level of attainment of students provide a basis for school and college accountability measures at age 18 and provide a benchmark of academic ability for employers

Reformed AS and A levels
Intended to be taught from September 2015:
English language
English literature
English language and literature
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Psychology
Computer science
Business
History
Art and design
Economics
Sociology
New AS qualifications will be introduced at the same time as each reformed A level is introduced
– Eg AS physics will be taught from September 2015, AS geography from
September 2016

Reformed AS and A levels
Intended to be taught from September 2016:
Maths and further maths
Geography
Modern foreign languages
Ancient languages
Religious studies
Drama and theatre
Dance
Music
Physical education
Intended to be taught from September 2017:
Any remaining subjects
Ofqual has consulted on and is currently considering how content for any remaining subjects should be developed (where the DfE is not leading on content development) and on the expectations for subjects to continue as A levels

What will reformed A levels look like?
Structure
– all exams in the summer at the end of the course
Assessment – exam where possible, other forms of assessment only where necessary to assess essential subjects skills
Grading – staying the same as now, A*- E (& U)
Demand – same level of challenge as current A levels

What will reformed AS qualifications look like?
New AS qualifications will be introduced at the same time as each reformed A level is introduced
Standalone – new AS will not count towards an A level grade
Assessment – by exam only at the end of the course, using other forms of assessment only where necessary to assess essential subjects skills
Co-teachable – exam boards can design the standalone AS to be taught alongside first year of A level where possible
Grading – staying the same as now, A - E (& U)
Demand – new AS will have same level of challenge as current AS

Summary of assessment proposals – part 1
Subject GCSE
Current weighting of non-exam assessment
Proposed weighting of non-exam assessment
A level
Current weighting of non-exam assessment
Proposed weighting of non-exam assessment
AS qualification
Current weighting of non-exam assessment
Proposed weighting of non-exam assessment
Ancient languages
Art and design
Computer science
Dance
Further mathematics
Geography
Mathematics
Modern foreign languages
Music
Physical education
60 –80%
60%
100%
25 –60%
80%
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
100%
20%
60%
60%
30%
None
60%
0
–20%
None
0 –20%
30 –40%
N/A
N/A
None
50%
None
20%
None
30%
60 –70%
35
–50%
60%
30%
None
55%
0
–20%
None
0 –20%
30 –40% 8
N/A
N/A
None
50%
None
None
None
30%
60 –70%
35
–50%
60%
30%

Summary of assessment proposals – part 2
Subject
GCSE
Current weighting of non-exam assessment
Proposed weighting of non-exam assessment
A level
Current weighting of non-exam assessment
Proposed weighting of non-exam assessment
AS qualification
Current weighting of non-exam assessment
Proposed weighting of non-exam assessment
Citizenship studies
Cooking and nutrition
60%
N/A
0%
50%
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Design and technology
Drama
60%
60−100%
50%
60%
N/A
40−70%
N/A
60%
N/A
40−100%
N/A
60%

The range of GCSE and A level/AS subjects
• Government determines the content for some GCSE subjects
• Government takes an interest, together with HE, in the content of some A level/AS subjects
• Each exam boards decides whether or not to develop
GCSEs, A levels and AS qualifications in the subjects.

What about other subjects?
•
We consulted on a proposal that there should be a process for subjects that government has not already proposed content for
• We proposed where there is a GCSE or A level/AS in a subject all exam boards should use the same content, to help secure comparability, understanding and confidence. They should cooperate to develop the content and consult widely
• Exam boards each decide in which subjects they wish to offer
GCSEs and A levels
• No guarantee they will wish to develop new GCSEs and A levels in the full range of subjects currently available

Our proposal
• GCSEs, A levels and AS qualifications should only be developed where:
• The subject is distinct from others – leading to some detailed proposals on subjects that are similar to reformed subjects
• The qualification will fulfil the GCSE/A level purpose
• Performance can be differentiated using the full grading scale
• The qualification will be at an appropriate level of demand
• The content can be validly assessed

Impact on availability
We also proposed:
• Only new GCSEs and reformed A levels should be available for students starting their courses in September 2017
• This will minimise the period during which there is dual running of new/reformed and ‘legacy’ qualifications
• We are considering our response to the consultation and will announce our decisions shortly

Consultation events
Ofqual is looking to run some subject-specific events to support the consultation currently running at: http://comment.ofqual.gov.uk/developing-new-qualifications-for-2016-part-2/
– The subjects in this consultation are
- GCSEs in citizenship studies, design and technology, cooking and nutrition, drama
- A level in drama and theatre
To help Ofqual understand potential demand for these events, there is a short survey to complete at: http://surveys.ofqual.gov.uk/s3/eventsforfirstteaching2016september
The closing date for this survey is 3 rd October.

Find out more
Visit www.ofqual.gov.uk/qualifications-and-assessments/qualification-reform/
Questions?
call Ofqual’s helpdesk – 0300 303 3346 email – info@ofqual.gov.uk tweet – @ofqual
For more information on curriculum and content, contact the Department for Education www.gov.uk/dfe